“You’ve built a home where she thinks she has to be in pain to get your full attention.”

My throat went dry, and for ten seconds I stood by the sofa wondering if all my checking on her during middle school had somehow trained her body to turn ordinary stress into physical pain.

“She’s in a hospital bed right now, Daniel.”

“Because you panicked and took her to an emergency room instead of letting her rest at home,” he said smoothly.

He reached out and patted my shoulder twice, his palm warm through my coat.