Olga had the day off, so I faced the shift alone-vitals, charts, a quick assist on a post-op dressing change. By 2:30 p.m. I was done. I stepped outside, phone already in hand, and called Olga. She picked up immediately.

"Hey, mama-to-be! Survived?"

"Barely," I said, grinning. "MD almost skinned me alive for a mistake. I feel like an asshole."

Olga snorted. "He'll live. Joshua nagged me all morning about you not letting him drive you today. He's convinced you'll faint on the sidewalk or something."

We both cracked up. "These men think once a woman is..." I glanced around the parking lot, lowered my voice to a whisper, "...pregnant,...