In the ambulance Bette was holding Tina’s hand to give her borrowed strength. Bette started singing in her ear softly, “Is it alright for me to feel this way to put my head in your lap and the world will go awaywell we can go therewe can go anywhere But is it alrightto hold you through the night” Bette sang because she was feeling helpless. She wanted to be able to keep her promise but she was scared. What if she couldn’t? Could they survive another broken promise?

            Dr. Wilson was waiting for them in the emergency room. She got Bette dressed in scrubs and Tina on a gurney to wheel her into the operating room.

            In the OR Tina kept repeating, “don’t diedon’t die”

             Dr. Wilson was saying, “she’s almost with us just a little longer.”

            Bette was bent near Tina’s whispering, “Tina you’re doing great. She’s almost here. Just hang on. She’s almost here.”

Dr. Wilson cut in, “and here she is.” She was holding the crying infant high enough to allow Tina to see her daughter.

Tina’s eyes were unfocused but she was able to say, “Angelica”

“What baby?”

“That’s what I want to name her. Angelica.”

“Okay Baby”, Bette said watching as Tina’s eyes drifted shut. “Tina?”

Dr. Wilson gently pushed her away but Bette was asking, “can I cut the cord? Please I want to cut the cord. Please” At first the nurse wouldn’t allow it but Dr. Wilson gave her approval.

“Hello Angel”, she said cutting the umbilical cord.

Later after everything settled Dr. Wilson found Bette in the waiting room, “Bette, Tina is doing fine but we want to keep her in recovery for a while longer. I was wondering if you’d like to visit your baby.”

“That would be wonderful.”

They went to the nursery. When Bette saw baby Angelica her eye filled with tears, “she’s so beautiful.”

“Yes she is my dear. Would you like to hold her?”

“Can I?”

“Certainly, you may also take her in the sitting area right over there”, Dr. Wilson was pointing to an open door. Bette walked with Angelica in her arms to a rocking chair near the window. Shortly after that the rest of the family entered. Dana, Alice, Kit, Shane and Jenny stood in a semi circle gathering around to see the newest edition to there family, “This is Angelica.”