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“Sorry about that,” I apologize sweetly “I didn’t want to miss it”

He laughs “I could tell”

“I’ sh, so no worries What are you in for?”

His shs and shakes his head “My wife is having a baby”

Wah, ah I force a ser in an elevator fantasy bites the dust in spectacular fashion

“Congratulations!” For the first ti a very large stuffed ani more sense”

His smile deepens “Thanks It’s our first Do you have kids?” I wince before I can stop hs “Not a kid person?”

I shrug “Not a responsibility person”

He nods just at the elevator dings for my floor, and I turn to face the front as the door opens

“Nice to lance over my shoulder to do the same

His jawline flexes, and ina thumps her foot in protest What a pity

“Yeah, you too Congrats again”

The double doors the security guard spoke of are already open as soht in and head for e at the desk calls out to ets started I turn around and s to see my mom She’s in 312”

“You have to check in,” she states authoritatively, and I have to work not to roll my eyes

“Right,” I agree “I forgot that’s what Lurch said”

“Lurch?”

“The gatekeeper downstairs He’s bald Gru said Bill”

Against all the odds, Nurse Ratched actually cracks a smile “I just need you to put your name and arrival time When you leave, stop back by to write your time out”

“Okay” I oblige, stepping up to the counter and scribbling on her “important” paper

She takes the clipboard back behind the counter and points to my left “Room 312 is around the corner and on the left-hand side”