“You can say that again,” said the second one.
“Hey,” said the first.
“Well, you said it.”
The first nurse looked sheepishly at us, then smiled.
“You relax now, Mrs. Goldman. If you need anything, you just holler. One of the doctors will be in soon to see how you're getting on, okay?” And then the two nurses left, carrying on a heated discussion between them.
Some two hours later, Catherine descended into the throes of labour. I occupied one side with Eph and Sharon taking the other. We stood no more than two feet apart. I held Catherine's hand because she almost cracked Eph's bones. He hung off my shoulder. I don't know who was sweating more, Catherine or Eph. Sharon patted her face with a damp cloth murmuring to her in what I assumed was Irish. When the contractions came, Catherine
