No Longer the Clown novel · Chapter 4 of 16

Chapter 4: Happy Birthday, Phoebe

Dexter's hand came off my shoulder.

"A doctor?" he said. "Addie, strangers make her worse."

"Then he won't be a stranger for long."

"Mom, hang on." Susan's voice came through the speaker, suddenly steadier. "Addie, honey, I don't need a doctor. I just need you."

"You're scared and you're lost," I said. "That's exactly when you need one."

I hung up before she could answer.

Dexter was staring at me.

"Who is this doctor?"

"A neurologist from Cascade Memorial. He's a regular at the hotel."

"You can't just bring some guy from the hotel into my mother's house."

"Why not?"

He didn't have an answer that he could say out loud.

"Go to the restaurant," I said. "Hold our table. I'll be there by nine."

I kissed his cheek and walked out in the green dress.

Ren picked up on the second ring.

"Chef?"

"You said you'd see her yourself."

"Text me the address."

He was on Susan's porch before I was.

He'd changed out of scrubs into a gray sweater, and he was holding a small paper bag.

"Blood pressure cuff," he said. "Makes people feel like it's a real visit."

The front door was locked.

Susan had never locked it once in two years. She said she forgot the keys.

I knocked.

It took her a long time to open it.

When she did, her cardigan was buttoned wrong and her hair was pulled loose around her face.

She looked at me and burst into grateful tears.

Then she looked at Ren, and her eyes went flat for half a second.

"Who is this man?"

"This is Dr. Liang. He's going to help."

"I don't know him," she said. "I don't know him. Addie, make him go."

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