Our staff will show you where to wait.”

Curtis made a humorless sound.

“You’re separating a father from his daughter?”

“I’m giving my patient privacy,” she replied.

A nurse named Maribel opened the door wider and stood beside it.

Curtis looked from her to me, as if he expected me to apologize on his behalf.

When I didn’t, he left.

Only after the door closed did Sadie start to shake.