for John G

Helen prided herself on keeping strict hours in spite of the fact that she lived on a deserted tropical island and it pained her to know she was going to be late, horrifically so, on her own birthday. It really set a bad precedent and she was lucky in that Sam and Coraline knew her well enough to let it slide but John didn't know her very well at all and she hated to set a bad example.

He was seated in the front when she came in and she gave him an awkward little smile. "Terribly sorry, John, I let time get away from me this morning. We don't have any pressing patients, do we?"