In the general laughter and congratulations, Kara stood frozen and stunned. Indeed, all the hospital staff sat agog, trusting the grapevine to get it right, except for the most important part.

Janet, the first to find her voice, said indignantly, "Well, I'm flabbergasted!"

Doctor Craig said, "Janet, I trust..." Janet struck her own head with the heel of her hand several times, as if trying to kick-start her brain into working.

"So, does it mean, Kara, that Doctor Max isn't going to marry anyone?" Janet asked. "And if he isn't, then...?"

But Kara, for the second time, had mumbled and excused herself and left.

Doctor Craig made some joke about...