I knew better than to call Megan demanding access.

I kept my phone on the table.

At noon, a message from Andrea arrived: Hazel is in the procedure room.

Updates will come when Megan consents to share them.

I wrote back: Thank you.

No need to reply until there’s news.

Around two, I looked up to see a little boy carrying a stuffed whale across the coffee shop.

His father was helping him negotiate a cup of hot chocolate.