“Lawyer. And you?”

“Mine’s an investment banker.”

They’d both turned to the nurse.

“We’d better start without them,” they said.

Now that Maggie had made partner, the pressure wasn’t quite so bad. But if anyone thought she was going to break off an important meeting to go to a breathing class …

And she hadn’t. Not to the first, nor the second. The third time, she did turn up. The nurse hadn’t been too happy, but Gorham didn’t mind—he was getting pretty good at breathing by now.

“Okay,” said the nurse, looking bleakly at Maggie. “The key is to get a rhythm going that helps you to relax. You’re going to learn to breathe in, on RE … count one … two … three … four … and LAX … RE … one … two … three … LAX. As the contractions get a little closer, we may want to speed it up a bit. So, just follow your husband now while he gives you the time. And RE … one … two …”

The duty nurse’s head appeared round the door. “There’s a call for a Ms. O’Donnell,” she said.

“Would you please tell them she’ll call back later?” said the nurse.

“I’m afraid,” said Maggie, “I’ll have to take that.” She started toward the door.

“Would you please sit down?” The nurse’s voice was rising in anger.

“Sorry,” said Maggie as she reached the door.

“This is your baby,” screamed the nurse.

Maggie turned, glanced lovingly at Gorham, and gave the nurse a brilliant smile.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “We’re a great team. He’ll breathe, and I’ll have the baby.”

“Breathe … two … three … Push,” said Gorham and the doctor. “Breathe … two … three … Push.”

“Push now …” said the doctor. “Good girl … that’s it … almost there … push … hard as you can …”

“Aagh,” screamed Maggie.

Dr. Caruso wasn’t talking now. He was busy. He was pulling the baby out.

“One more time,” he called. Maggie gave another scream …

Gorham stared. Dr. Caruso took a step back. The baby cried out. Caruso smiled.

“Congratulations. You have a son.”

So that was it.

A few minutes later the doctor remarked to them both: “I see you both went to the breathing classes. Good job.”

Gorham looked at Maggie, and Maggie looked at Gorham.

“Absolutely,” said Maggie.

So everything was all right. After a while Maggie wanted to rest for a few hours, so Gorham decided to go back to the apartment. He took off the scrubs and the nurse told him to drop them into the chute that went down to the laundry. He got his things together, and prepared to leave. He was just about to walk off the floor with Dr. Caruso when he realized what he’d done.

“Shoot. I left my watch in the pocket of the scrubs. It’s gone down into the laundry.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Caruso. “Was it a Rolex?”