"I smiled back, and reached out to her. We kissed, and she lay down on the hospital bed, holding me. We fell asleep together.I awoke to a feeling I se...med to remember from long ago. It was the washtub ringer again.Oh, shit! I could feel the umbilical cord around my neck. I struggled and thrashed to get it off of my neck. My new mom was having contractions every minute or so. I was being pushed down the birth cannel and it was difficult to control my new arms. I finally got the umbilical cord. ." Do it, Ellen," I urged. "Then go to the bedroom and call me."I disconnected and watched. She topped up her glass with wine and drank it empty before leaving the table. I watched her leave and return with Brian in tow. He sat at the table as Ellen brought him a drink. She poured more wine, took a big sip and disappeared from view after giving him a kiss on the cheek.My phone rang as Brian sipped his drink and waited. I answered and began talking."Good girl," I said softly. "Now strip down,. " How is he?" Excited. You remember that Marine Corps coffee mug you sent? He won't drink from anything else."Scott followed Karen into the inner sanctum. One of the things he appreciated about the Western Group was their enduring stability. They'd been around for over a century. The Midland offices were a perfect representation of that history. Aside from thinner and larger computer monitors, the stately décor had changed little since his first visit nearly five years earlier. Everett Wahl's. The food is good and the drinks are great," Joe says to Erika.But Erika wasn't listening. She shifts her weight, grabs the table cloth and bites her lower lip."What's wrong with her?" Joe asks me.I smile and show him the remote. Joe takes it and says,"Is this what I think it is?" Yup."Joe flips the setting to medium and Erika cringes more. Her breathing gets a little heavy and she clenches the table cloth more, twisting the cloth in her fists."Oh god," Erika whispers.Just then the waiter comes.