Owens said.

“The lab takes about twenty minutes to process the tubes.”

She walked out into the corridor, letting the vinyl door swing shut behind her.

I set June down on the crinkly paper covering the exam table.

Her tiny hands clutched my shirt collar while she let out a flat, exhausted whimper.

The brass door handle turned, and the door swung open again.

Sylvia stepped straight into the room, her heavy leather handbag clamped under her elbow and her velvet coat draped over her forearm.