Whitney had described him as steady, which from her mouth sounded almost like an insult.

He came from a family with old money and careful manners, the kind my mother had spent years hoping would notice Whitney.

I wondered what he thought now.

“I don’t want him involved,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I meant it.

Richard studied me.

“You don’t have to manage everyone else tonight.”

The hospital door opened before I could answer.

Melissa stepped in, carrying a clipboard and wearing the same calm expression she had worn through my earlier panic.