“Why?”
Sadie began twisting the edge of her blanket.
“He said you would panic. He said you would blame him for not taking me sooner. Then he said we couldn’t afford another hospital bill.”
I closed my eyes.
My daughter had been frightened and in pain, and her father had made her believe she was responsible for protecting him.
Dr. Raman gently interrupted.
“Sadie, thank you for telling us. You haven’t done anything wrong. You should never feel responsible for keeping medical information from your mother.”
Sadie nodded, crying harder.
My phone buzzed.
Curtis.
Three missed calls.
Then a message appeared.
Where are you?
I typed:
We’re at the hospital. Sadie has an abdominal mass. The doctors are evaluating her.
His reply came almost immediately.
Don’t authorize anything until I get there.
I stared at the screen.
He hadn’t asked whether she was stable.
He hadn’t asked if she was in pain.
