“I am already grabbing my purse.”
Clare arrived with an oversized hoodie, a paper bag from Panera, and eyes that turned wet the second she saw Madison leaning against the hallway wall.
When Madison reached for the hospital bag, Clare took it first.
“No,” she said. “You’ve carried enough.”
At labor and delivery, a nurse looked at the computer and nodded.
“Your chart is marked private, Mrs. Walker. Your approved support person is Clare Benton?”
Clare raised one hand.
“That’s me.”
The nurse looked at Madison.
“Still correct?”
“Yes.”
“Approved contacts are Clare Benton, Robert Miller, and Elaine Miller?”
“My parents,” Madison said.
“No one else?”
