Jordan took a slow breath.
He couldn't undo his hesitation that afternoon.
But he could make different decisions in the future.
And he intended to.
The pharmacy introduced additional procedures for responding when customers were questioned about legitimately dispensed medication.
The changes didn't give employees authority over police investigations.
But they clarified how staff could verify prescriptions, preserve relevant security recordings, respond to urgent medical needs, and seek appropriate assistance when a customer appeared to be in danger.
Mara Kim helped develop the training.
She insisted that employees understand both their professional responsibilities and their limits.
A pharmacist couldn't simply disclose a patient's confidential information to anyone who demanded it.
But the staff could follow appropriate verification procedures and respond when a situation threatened a patient's access to necessary care.
During one training session, a young technician asked whether the pharmacy could have prevented what happened to Naomi.
Mara was quiet.
For a moment, she looked toward the front doors.
Then answered honestly.
"I don't know whether we could have stopped the officer before he used force."
She paused.
"But I do know we should recognize when somebody needs help and respond as quickly as we safely can."
The technician nodded.
Mara continued.
"And we should never assume a person must have done something wrong just because an officer is questioning them."
For several seconds, the room was quiet.
Then the pharmacist looked toward the security monitor.
The same camera that recorded Naomi leaving with her prescription still watched the entrance.
She hoped its footage would never again be needed to prove that a customer had been telling the truth.
Naomi's pregnancy continued under close medical supervision.
Her blood pressure remained an important concern, but her care team adjusted her follow-up plan as needed and monitored the baby carefully.
The weeks after the confrontation were not completely peaceful.
Naomi still experienced anxiety.
She sometimes avoided the pharmacy where the incident occurred.
And she began meeting with a counselor who helped her process the frightening experience.
David attended some sessions with her.
They talked about how the incident affected their relationship.
How he felt when Amanda called from the ambulance.
And how Naomi sometimes blamed herself even though she knew the sergeant's actions were not her responsibility.
Gradually, she became more comfortable discussing those feelings.
She also began preparing for the birth.
The nursery walls were painted a soft cream color.