Krystle’s Reviews > Hollow Bones > Status Update

173 “—until its wings beat like a second heart, and it rose into the sky. “They have hollow bones,” Mama explained. “It’s what makes birds so fragile. But it’s also what makes it possible to fly.”

173 “When I was about five, a robin built a nest outside my bedroom window.” “One day, as I watched at my windowsill, the mama bird shoved one of the babies out of the nest. As a bird plummeted, I screamed m, & my mother came running. “No, it’s okay. Just watch.” She pointed to the 2nd baby, which was now on the lip of the nest. The mama robin gave it a nudge, & it started to torpedo—“

122 “He raises a brow. “Can you even hit inside the shower anymore to install it?” “Yeah. I just may need the Jaws of Life to get me out.” I smooth my fingers over the baby bird’s beak. “I’m going to call it Hollow Bones.” Adam blinks in surprise. “That’s kind of grim,” he says. Here is the other thing I love about mosaics: they take broken things and make them beautiful.

95 Dr. Mantillard confirms they’re having a baby girl!

92-93 “I’m going to hop in the shower.” Ten minutes later I’m ready to go. I opened the front door of the condo to find Toby, Miguel, and the rest of my entire Emergency Preparedness team standing there, holding balloons that say CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME BABY, a haul of gifts, and what looks like a platter of bagels and lox.”

92-93 Molly’s team & Jesse throw her a surprise baby shower. “Molly,” Toby says. “ Normally I would never call you on your day off, but a stretch of I-95 washed out because of the storm, & a truck collided with a tractor trailer.” “Casualties?” “ no, but that’s not the problem. The truck was transporting 12 lab monkeys, infected with Covid, herpes, and hep C, & they escaped.”

81 At the OBGYN’s office talking to receptionist, Georgia, after finding out Molly has to do a blood draw to screen for any abnormalities. “ Can I let you in on a secret? There is no perfect baby. And there is no perfect parent. You’re going to love that baby despite all her flaws. And if you’re lucky, she’ll love you despite all of yours.”

51 Molly’s pregnant!! “Jesse folds his arms around me. “My mom used to say that’s the dirty little secret of parenting. No one knows how to do it, much less do it well.””

48-50 Molly is a badass proving a point to doctor of musicology, Dr. Griswald (she replaced the longtime physician who was the head of the CDC‘s Division of State and Local Readiness), that the notification protocol—using a multi-dept APB for every drill & incident—isn’t the “best tool for our real-world experience.”