Chapter 17: The Waiting Room

Kendra was in the emergency waiting room at Lake Norman Regional, in the plastic chair by the vending machine.

She had a duffel bag at her feet and a paper wristband on her arm.

I stood in the sliding doors with my keys in my hand for a long time.

Then I walked over and sat two chairs away from her.

"They said I fainted," she said, without looking up. "In a parking lot. I hadn't eaten since Monday."

"Did they put you on fluids?"

"Not yet. They said wait."

"They always say that."

She laughed, and it turned into a cough.

I did not touch her.

I watched the triage nurse across the room check a toddler's ear, and I did not touch her.

"Preston left Wednesday," Kendra said. "He took the SUV and the card."

"Why?"

"He said I should've known better than to tell you about the account."

"Where are you staying?"

"The condo's in my name. He stopped paying the rent." She wiped her face on her sleeve. "I can't afford it."

"I know."

She turned her head.

"You do?"

"I saw the lease."

She did not ask me what else I had seen.

Her hands were shaking, and her nails were bitten down to the quick.

When I had known her best, she had never once bitten them.

"I'm not here to forgive you," I said.

"I know."

"I want that to be clear."

"It's clear." Her mouth wobbled. "Why did you come?"

"Because it's one in the morning, and you're alone in a waiting room."

I looked at the vending machine.

"I'd do it for anyone who works on my ward."

She nodded, hard, and kept nodding.

"Your license is up for renewal in December," I said. "The hospital will want a reference from a charge nurse."