“That’s because she didn’t file it against you personally,” Paul said.

“Then who did she file it against?”

“The Caldwell Corporate Trust,” Paul said. “It was filed as an administrative claim against your family’s estate. And someone inside your own office signed off on a rejection notice and had the file sealed.”

Ethan stared at the wall, his eyes wide and completely still.

“Who signed it, Paul?”

Before the lawyer could answer, the heavy double doors at the end of the hallway swung open with a loud click.

I watched from the orange vinyl chairs near the reception desk as Ethan turned toward the sound.

Dr. Anika Rao walked through the heavy double doors, her green scrubs looking faded under the harsh fluorescent lights of the corridor.

She looked tired, her eyes rimmed with red, holding a silver clipboard tight against her chest.

Lauren was still asleep in my lap, her small hand tucked under her chin.

I smoothed her tangled curls, trying to block out the sterile smell of bleach and old coffee that hung in the hospital air.

Ethan didn’t lower his phone.