Chapter 12: Summer's Dress

Donovan came to my emergency room every night that week.

He took the plastic chair by the water fountain and sat there until my shift ended.

He didn't speak to me unless I spoke first.

On Saturday evening a nurse brought him a coffee without being asked.

The man with the ice pack from Wednesday nodded to him from across the room.

I had not told him about Emmett.

I hadn't told him anything yet.

At nine o'clock the sliding doors opened and Summer walked in.

She was in white again, a white coat over a white dress, and the dress was creased.

Her makeup had run and been fixed badly.

She did not look at the triage desk or at the nurses.

She looked straight at Donovan.

"There you are," she said. "I went to the house, and the housekeeper wouldn't let me in."

Donovan stood.

"Summer."

"Your father changed the codes. My mother's rooms are closed. I've been living in my car since Thursday."

Her voice shook.

"Donovan, I've been in that house since I was six."

"I'm sorry."

"Are you? Then come outside and talk to me."

"I'm staying here."

Her head turned slowly.

She saw me at the desk with my clipboard, and something went out of her face.

"Of course," she said. "Of course you are."

Half the waiting room was watching.

A boy at the end of a row had his phone out again.

I put down the clipboard and walked around the desk.

"Summer," I said. "Did you drive me to the hotel on Saturday?"

"Kate."

"Donovan answers every question I ask. I'm asking you."

She laughed, short and wet.

"Yes," she said. "I drove you. I picked you up from the ER at five and I did your hair in the car."

Keep reading free with an account. Start 50 Billion Reasons to Leave You from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.