She splashed some water on her face, then found her phone.
“Sandra? Thank God.”
Sandra blinked. She had rarely heard that note of suppressed panic in the young nun’s voice. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Natalie Colby. She’s gone into labor early. But the things aren’t going right and Dr. James is on vacation and two other obstetricians have the flu and dammit, I need you here. Can you come down? I don’t…” The young voice broke. “I don’t want to lose her, Sandra.”
“Of course.” Reluctantly, she consigned her vision of a lazy day in bed with her husband to the garbage. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Hurry. Please.”
“Christ.” Fourteen hours later, she slumped against the side of her locker in the staff room. “That was a bitch.”
Mary nodded. Her eyes were closed, and she leaned her head back ag
