“And soon, if you’re good, I’ll take you upstairs.”

“Upstairs? Is there something up there that would interest me? Like food?”

“You’re hungry?”

“Famished! I haven’t eaten in two days.” That was entirely true. Marjorie liked her food and seldom skipped a meal. Luckily, gaining weight had never been a problem. She guessed she was fortunate in that department, but it seemed she would quickly melt away if this hospital had anything to say about it. She hadn’t been offered a single meal so far.

Sam knew her digestive system couldn’t handle anything solid for a few days, but he decided against telling her so. He would leave as many unpleasant tasks as possible for Cal Johnson. After all, Cal was the physician of record.

While guiding the IV pole beside her, Sam manipulated them through the doorway and into the broad hallway.

“This afternoon, while you were sleeping, I delivered a set of twins,” Sam boasted proudly. Birth, even after countless deliveries, had never ceased to humble him, and twins were always special. “They’re upstairs,” he continued. “I’ll take you to see them later, if you want.”

Marjorie looked at him and blinked. She didn’t know how to explain that babies frightened her. All right, they terrified her. Some women took to motherhood and dirty diapers like hogs to mud. But, unfortunately, that would never be the case with her. The only times she’d ever been around babies, they’d cried. Within ten minutes she’d been ready to wail herself. After several embarrassing episodes in her youth, she had decided that anyone under two was allergic to her.

“I…I think I’d better wait until I’ve got more strength,” she said.

“Of course,” Sam agreed. “I wouldn’t dream of dragging you upstairs your first time out. Tomorrow, maybe, or the next day.”

“Sure. Anytime,” Marjorie answered, but the words nearly stuck in her throat.

Three

Marjorie stared at the orange tray and grimaced in pure disgust. If she so much as looked at another bowl of red gelatin, she was going to start screaming and say something unladylike that would shock the entire hospital staff. Everything they’d brought to her so far only vaguely resembled food.

“Good morning,” the nurse’s aide greeted her, as she strolled into the room. “And how was your breakfast?”

“You don’t want to know.”

The young girl glanced at the untouched tray. “You didn’t eat a thing.”

“I couldn’t,” Marjorie muttered. It wasn’t this poor woman’s fault that the hospital had chosen to starve her.

“Aren’t you feeling better? Usually my patients are more than ready to eat by this time. Are you in a lot of pain? Perhaps I should notify Dr. Johnson.”