March 19th:
"Blanche are you sure that you don't want me to take you to your appointment?"
"Dorothy I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"You have to work. I'm fine I can handle it."
"If you..."
"I'll be fine I promise."
"Ok. You'd better get going so you're not late."
"Ok," she agrees.
Blanche arrives at her appointment right on time. She waits in the waiting room for ten minutes before she's called back. The doctor talks to her for a few minutes and then begins to examine her.
"Miss Devereaux do you have your bag with you?"
"No why?"
"You're about eight centimeters dilated."
"You're kidding right?"
"No. You need to head over to the hospital."
"But I've got a month before she's supposed to be here."
"She's got different plans. You've had a relatively easy pregnancy. And at your age it's not uncommon for babies to come a little early."
"My age?"
"Anyone, over the age of thirty five, really."
"Oh," she nods.
"Are you ready?" he asks her.
"Not at all."
"Is there anyone you need to call?"
"My roomates."
"We'll call them on the way."
An hour later Sophia, and Rose arrive at the hospital. They ask a receptionist for her room number. She's waiting on them when they come into the room. Rose sets Blanche's bag aside as she sits down in a seat next to her.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm ok, I guess."
"Are you nervous?" Rose questions.
"Maybe a little bit."
"Don't worry you'll be ok," Sophia assures her.
"How much longer?" Rose asks.
"The doctor is coming to take me to the operating room in about five minutes."
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"No Rose, everything is fine, but he wants me to deliver in there in case anything goes wrong. If, heaven forbid anything goes wrong we'll already be in the operating room. It's just a precaution."
"Don't be scared kid, you're going to do great," Sophia promises.
The doctor comes into the room with a pair of nurses.
"Are you ready to go?"
"I guess," Blanche nods.
A nurse walks up to Sophia and Rose. "Are you two coming with her?"
Rose hesitates, Blanche answers for her, "Yes, they're both coming."
"You'll need to put these on then," the nurse hands them each a pair of scrubs.
Eight minutes later they are in O.R. Rose and Sophia sit by Blanche's side and hold her hand. Forty five minutes later, at 12:16 P.M. the doctor announces, "It's a girl." He lays her on Blanche's chest and the three women stare silently at the baby as a nurse wipes her off, and she begins to cry. "Hi, precious girl," Blanche says softly. The wailing lulls, and the tiny baby girl becomes quiet.
It's just after four when Dorothy arrives. She finds Rose and Sophia huddled around Blanche's bed.
"Sorry I missed it. I couldn't get off work and..."
"It's ok," Blanche assures her.
Dorothy moves toward the bed. "Do I get to see her? Ma, move."
Sophia steps aside and allows Dorothy to take her spot. Blanche very carefully hands the baby off to Dorothy. She carefully holds the little girl without saying a word. Everyone waits on her reaction. Finally she's says something, "Blanche I think that she's going to give you a run for your money."
"Let's hope not."
"She's so tiny," Dorothy adds avoiding the obvious.
"Five pounds three ounces," Blanche comments.
"Does she have a name?"
"Audrey Grace."
"Oh that's pretty," Dorothy smiles.
Audrey opens her eyes for a moment and then drifts back to sleep. Rose and Sophia wait patiently.
"Blanche..."
"Yes Dorothy?"
"Does she have hair?"
Blanche nods, and pulls off the baby's cap. Dorothy stares at the abundance of hair. She carefully replace the cap, hiding the little girl's dark curls.
Sophia and Rose stare quietly while waiting for Dorothy to ask the question on everyone's mind.
"She's beautiful," Dorothy comments.
"Of course she is," Blanche answers.
"She looks absolutely nothing like you," Dorothy adds.
"So?"
"She looks..."
"She looks what Dorothy?"
"She's so dark," Dorothy answers.
"It's Miami," Blanche points out.
"Well I'm certain that she didn't get a tan while she was in your womb."
"What are you suggesting?" Blanche questions.
"Are you sure there wasn't a mix up somewhere?" Dorothy asks.
"This is the same baby that came out of her earlier, pussycat. We were there," Sophia assures her.
"Oh," Dorothy nods.
"Is there a problem?" Blanche asks.
"No of course there's not. Did you know?"
"No of course not. How could I know Dorothy?"
"A mother's intuition?"
"I didn't know that she'd..."
"Are you sure that you can handle this?"
"Dorothy this is my baby why wouldn't I be able to handle it?"
"Because even though this is the twentieth century people are still ignorant and cruel."
"No one will do anything to hurt her, ever."
"So do you know who the father is?" Dorothy asks.
"He's a navy man," she answers.
"Of course he is," Dorothy rolls her eyes.
"Can I have my baby back now?"