Chapter 16: The Announcement

"Clare," Haley said, and held out both hands.

I did not take them.

"Congratulations," I said. "I assume that's what we're all here for."

"You came." Her eyes went to Cal and back. "And with your brother. Deborah will be so pleased."

"I'm sure she will."

Cal stood beside me with his hands in his pockets and said nothing, until Haley's smile faltered.

The head nurse waved at us from a table at the back.

She had saved eight chairs, and every one of them was full of scrubs under good jackets.

Another thirty people from the hospital stood along the wall with plates they were not eating from.

We sat down with them, and the head nurse passed Cal a roll without a word.

At the front of the room, a wide screen ran the club's slideshow.

It was a loop of golf tournaments, a Christmas gala, a ribbon-cutting and Deborah in pearls holding a very large check.

Deborah stood at the lectern beside it in a lavender suit, tapping a glass with a spoon.

"Friends," she said. "Neighbors. Thank you for coming on such short notice."

The room settled.

"This has been a painful month for my family."

She paused so everyone could remember what the month had been.

"My son was humiliated at his own rehearsal dinner by a person he trusted."

Keep reading free with an account. Start Everyone Thinks I'm Thirsting Over My Own Brother from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.