The hallway smelled of harsh floor sanitizer and cold tea from an open break room door down the hall.

I took my phone out of my bag and called Daniel.

He answered on the third ring without saying hello.

“Rebecca, I’m in the middle of putting together quarterly sales reports,” Daniel said, his words clipped and sharp.

“Can this wait?”

“I’m at St.

Jude with Grace,” I said, leaning my shoulder against the cold wall tiles.

“The emergency doctor is running scans on her stomach right now.”