**Chapter 3: The Wait**

The fluorescent lights of the hospital waiting room flickered above, casting an eerie glow on the anxious faces of those who waited. Lucas paced back and forth, his eyes fixed on the clock on the wall, willing the minutes to pass faster. Blanche sat beside him, trying to calm him down, but Lucas was beyond consolation. "Lucas, stop pacing and sit down," Blanche said, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "You're going to wear yourself out." Lucas stopped pacing and looked at Blanche, his eyes wild with worry. "How long has it been?" he asked, his voice laced with anxiety. Blanche checked her watch. "About twenty minutes since the doctor went in to check on Dorothy." Lucas let out a deep breath and tried to calm down, but his mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. What if something had gone wrong during the delivery? What if Dorothy was hurt? He couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had been building up inside him since they had arrived at the hospital. Blanche seemed to sense his distress and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Lucas, they're doing everything they can to take care of Dorothy and the baby. You have to trust the medical team." Lucas nodded, trying to appear calmer than he felt, but his eyes betrayed his anxiety. He glanced at the clock again, willing the minutes to pass faster. The waiting was agonizing, and Lucas felt like he was being torn apart by his worries. As he waited, Lucas's mind wandered back to the events leading up to Dorothy's hospital admission. He remembered the early morning contractions, the rush to the hospital, and the frantic calls to the doctor. He recalled the fear in Dorothy's eyes as she had been wheeled into the delivery room, and the feeling of helplessness that had washed over him. The sound of footsteps outside the waiting room broke the silence, and Lucas's heart skipped a beat. A doctor emerged, a kind smile on his face. "Lucas, I'm Dr. Smith, the attending physician. I have some good news and some bad news." Lucas's heart sank, and he felt like he was going to collapse. "What is it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The doctor hesitated before speaking. "The baby is healthy and doing well, but Dorothy...she's experiencing some complications. We're doing everything we can to stabilize her, but I need to take you to see her." Lucas felt like he had been punched in the gut. Complications? What did that mean? He exchanged a worried glance with Blanche, and together, they followed the doctor to Dorothy's hospital room. As they walked, Lucas's anxiety grew. What was wrong with Dorothy? Was she going to be okay? He felt like he was walking into the unknown, and the uncertainty was suffocating him. The doctor's words echoed in his mind: "We're doing everything we can to stabilize her." But what if it wasn't enough? What if he lost the love of his life? Lucas pushed aside the thoughts and focused on the present moment. He had to be strong for Dorothy, for their baby, and for himself. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for what was to come, his heart heavy with worry and his spirit trembling with fear.