How could he concentrate on a magazine? Behind a sliding glass window, sat Sheila, the dental receptionist, chewing gum and studying her cellphone.
Ralph tapped on the glass.
“This’s Dr. Bromberg's office?”
“Right.”
Another shriek? From the treatment area? Did Sheila notice? Or were Ralph's nerves to blame?
“Dr. Bromberg, who advertises painlIess dentistry?”
“What?”
“It's my first visit. Your website says painless dentistry.”
“Oh, yeah.” Sheila paused. Had she, too, heard something just then? She grinned. “Dr. Bromberg? Sure… Painless, really painless.”