Chapter 14: The Letter

The caseworker set it up for Thursday morning, and she did it with one phone call.

Aunt Dot drove me to the cardiology office in Columbus in her station wagon, with the heater rattling.

"You don't have to be in the room," she said at a red light. "Dylan asked for you. You can say no."

"I want to see the letter."

"Then you'll see it."

The waiting room had a fish tank and a rack of pamphlets about hearts.

My parents were already there, side by side on a couch, not touching.

My mother had put on lipstick, and she held Dylan's hand in both of hers.

My father stood up when he saw us.

"Dot. Zack. This is a private medical appointment."

"I know," Aunt Dot said. "The county knows too."

The caseworker came in behind us with her folder and her reading glasses on a chain.

She nodded at my parents, politely.

"Mr. and Mrs. Houghton. Thank you for making time. I'll sit in, if you don't mind, and I'll stay out of the way."

"We do mind," my mother said.

"I'm sure you do," the caseworker said, and sat down.

A nurse called Dylan's name.

We all went in together, because nobody would be the one to stay behind.

The exam room had a tall paper-covered bed, a computer on a rolling stand, and six chairs that somebody had brought in from the hall.

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