"Good," Barbara said and turned in her chair to look back at Howard. She looked happy and somewhat relaxed, but a small amount of strain lined her eyes. "John's fine. He has a small case of the sniffles, but we've been assured that it's nothing to worry about." Although someone could have told her that before she rushed him to the doctor's office.

It saddened Barbara that Howard couldn't continue staying with them, but she wasn't certain that she would be able to stay if she'd delivered her friend's child on the kitchen floor. Still, mother, child and adoptive son were all healthy, it was only unfortunate that the 'happy' was circumstantial.

"You'll have to come and see him soon," Barbara added, "he would love to meet you."