Naomi looked down at the baby.
Daniel continued.
"She was the nurse who stayed with her."
Claire stared.
"What?"
"Naomi worked in the neonatal unit."
Claire looked at Naomi.
"You were there?"
Naomi nodded.
"Yes."
"You held my baby?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she needed someone."
Claire looked at Daniel.
"And you let her?"
"I begged her to."
Claire's face collapsed.
"I don't remember."
"You were unconscious."
Claire wiped her tears.
"But why is she here tonight?"
Daniel looked at the baby.
"Because our daughter wasn't supposed to survive."
Silence.
A waiter stopped moving.
The orchestra had already gone quiet.
Every person in the ballroom was listening.
Daniel took Claire's hand.
"She survived because Naomi refused to give up."
Claire looked at the woman in the camel coat.
The same woman she had just humiliated.
The same woman she had told to leave.
The same woman who had been holding her child.
Claire whispered,
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Daniel answered,
"Because the doctors wanted you to recover first."
Claire shook her head.
"I should have known."
Naomi finally spoke.
"They didn't want you frightened."
Claire looked at her.
"You stayed with her?"
"Every night."
"For how long?"
"Twenty-two days."
Claire covered her mouth.
"Twenty-two?"
Naomi nodded.
"She was very small."
Claire began crying.
Naomi continued.
"Sometimes she would stop breathing."
Daniel looked down.
"I couldn't watch."
"But Naomi could," Claire said.
Naomi shook her head.
"I was scared too."
Claire looked at her.
"Then why did you stay?"
Naomi smiled faintly.
"Because she was a baby."
That answer broke something inside Claire.
She stepped closer.
"I am sorry."
Naomi didn't respond.
"I didn't know."
"I understand."
"No."
Claire shook her head.
"I treated you horribly."
Naomi looked at her.
"You were scared."
"I was cruel."
"You were frightened."
"I called you a liar."
Naomi nodded.
"You did."
"I told you to leave."
"Yes."
"And you still stayed with my daughter."
Naomi looked down at the baby.
"She needed me."
Claire began crying harder.
She reached toward the baby.
Naomi hesitated.
Then slowly handed her over.
Claire held her daughter.
The baby's tiny hand moved.
Claire kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry."
Daniel stood beside her.
The crowd remained silent.
Then an elderly woman near the back began clapping.
One clap.
Then another.
Soon the entire ballroom was applauding.
Naomi looked embarrassed.
She shook her head.
But the applause continued.
Claire looked at her.
"You deserve this."
Naomi smiled.
"I don't need applause."
"What do you need?"
Naomi looked at the baby.
"To know she's safe."
Claire hugged her daughter closer.
"She is."
Naomi nodded.
"Then I'm happy."