Chapter 2 - The Couple in the Waiting Room
I sat there for several minutes before I made myself go find him.
I found Nathaniel in a small family waiting room on the third floor, sitting across from a couple I'd never seen in my life. The woman was crying into a tissue. The man had one arm wrapped around her shoulders.
Nathaniel looked toward the doorway and saw me. His face went white.
"Nathaniel," I said. "What is going on."
He stood slowly. "Marissa, I can explain."
"Then explain." My voice came out sharper than I meant it to. "The doctor just told me our daughter wanted one of her organs to go to someone specific, and that you hid it from me. Does this have to do with these people?"
He didn't answer right away. His silence told me enough.
"Who is it," I pressed. "If you love me, you'll stop lying to me right now."
He swallowed. "I never lied about Claire's condition. Or her treatment."
"Then what did you hide?"
He glanced at the couple, then back at me. "She wanted to explain it herself," he said, and reached into his jacket for a folded piece of paper.
One word was written across the front in handwriting I recognized instantly.
Mom.
My anger vanished for just a second, replaced by something that hurt worse. "When did she write this?"
"Last week."
"You've had it since then?"
"She made me promise not to give it to you until... after."
I took the letter from his hand. "I need to read this alone."
May you like
"Marissa—"
I walked away before he could finish.
