Dr. Wagner came around the corner of the pod.
“Good morning, Mrs. Young. Kim, if you wouldn’t mind . . .”
He handed Kim his half-empty cardboard coffee cup. “I’ll be
quick so I can leave you to your work.” He put the infant-sized
stethoscope in his ears and listened to Danny’s chest and abdo
men. He gently poked his belly and felt around the top of his
head and down his spine. He checked his reflexes.
When he unfastened the tape holding his diaper on, Sophie
stood up. “What are you doing? He has plenty of doctors exam
ining him every day.” She nudged him aside as she put her hands
into the incubator and refastened his diaper.
“I like to check on the moms and babies I deliver. I feel
personally responsible for Danny, almost like his life is my
responsibility.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“After all, I am the chief of—”
“Yes, I know. Obstetrics. Not the NICU.”
He placed the stethoscope back inside the incubator and
closed the portholes. Sophie watched him warily.
He leaned down, picked up Danny’s blue name card off the
floor, and stuck it back on the incubator, pressing hard to make
sure it stayed.
He stood up, extending to his full six-foot, two-inch height.
“Sophie, I’m on your side. I consider myself part of Danny’s
team. Even though I don’t directly manage his care, I remain
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THE VERY BEST OF CARE
interested and concerned. I have your and your son’s best inter
ests at heart. Try to remember that.”
“And a mother’s love for her son is an unrivaled force of
nature. With all due respect, Dr. Wagner, you should remember
that.” She walked away from Dr. Wagner. Wow, that was bold.
Where’d that come from?
