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Dane’s invitation.
    Tharyn stepped in and saw that her husband was wrapping a bandage on the hand of the elderly man who had come in about half an hour earlier.
    Dane said, “I’m almost through. Is the child’s midsection distended?”
    “Yes.”
    Still wrapping the bandage, Dane said, “All right. I’m almost finished. Go ahead and prepare her for surgery. I’ll be there in less than five minutes.”
    Seconds later, Tharyn entered section number four. Running her gaze between the anxious mother and father, she said, “I must prepare Robin immediately for the surgery. Doctor will be ready ina few minutes. I’ll need both of you to go sit in the waiting area. She’ll be fine, believe me.”
    Both parents leaned down, and each kissed one of their daughter’s cheeks. Clara said, “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. You heard the nurse say you will be fine. Mama and Papa will be right out there in the office.”
    Tears were in Robin’s eyes, but she managed to nod and give them a brief smile.
    “If other patients come in while you’re waiting,” Tharyn said, “will you tell them that I’m assisting the doctor with the surgery on your daughter, and that I’ll return to the office as soon as possible?”
    Both parents nodded and walked away slowly.
    While Tharyn was with Robin and her parents in the back room, Melinda was doing her best to be patient as she sat in the waiting area. But to her, time seemed to drag.
    She kept glancing out the window for any sign of Tim and her parents, then at the clock on the wall above Tharyn’s desk. She wondered if the clock was in need of repair. The hands seemed to move so slowly.
    Unable to sit still another minute, she rose to her feet, stretched her back, then circled the empty room several times, always stopping at the large window to peer anxiously at the street and hitch rail. Each time she surveyed the street, there was no sign of her loved ones—and she took another slow walk around the tidy room.
    She was just sitting back down on her chair when she saw Ben and Clara emerge from the back room, and she heard them talking about the impending surgery on their little girl. She could see that they were on edge. The elderly gentleman with the bandage on his hand moved on past them and out the door.
    As Ben and Clara sat down near her, Melinda said, “Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, my name is Melinda Kenyon. I was here when you brought your little Robin in. Do I understand correctly that she’s about to undergo surgery?”
    “Yes,” said Ben. “Mrs. Logan called it peritoneal surgery. But she assured us that Robin will be all right. Dr. Logan is about to do the surgery right now.”
    Melinda pressed a smile on her lips. “Well, let me assure both of you that Robin is in the best of hands. Dr. Dane Logan is an excellent surgeon.”
    Clara took hold of Ben’s hand. “Thank you, Miss Kenyon. It is
Miss
Kenyon, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’m waiting right now for my fiancé and my parents to arrive.”
    Even as she spoke, Melinda’s attention was drawn out the large window as she saw a buggy pull up to the hitch rail. Her heart leaped in her chest as she jumped to her feet and bolted for the door. “There they are now! They’re here! They’re here!”
    Outside, George Kenyon was helping Hattie out of the buggy while Dr. Tim Braden was tying the reins to the hitch rail when they saw Melinda burst through the door, tears flowing.
    Tim vaulted the rail, gasping, “Oh, thank God! Thank God! Melinda, sweetheart, I love you!”
    “I love you, too, darling!” she cried as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her soundly.
    They clung to each other, both weeping for joy.
    When George and Hattie drew up, tears flowing from their eyes, Tim let go of Melinda and stepped back so they could embrace her. People on the street were looking on, as were Ben and Clara McDonald from the office window as both George and Hattie took Melinda into their arms.
    Tim waited a minute or so,