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would have been a good thing.

Arabella sniffled. “I…the text was from my sister. She said my mom took

my dad to the hospital because he was having pains in his chest. His health

has been dicey since everything happened. They’re at the hospital right

now. My sister is heading over. She texted because she knew I was at work

and mom was scared that if she interrupted, I might lose my job.”

“You can tell them that won’t happen.” June’s assurances seemed little

comfort to Arabella. She was worried about her dad, but it was something

else too, or she would have flown out that door and gotten to the hospital as

fast as she could. “Why do you think that makes you terrible?” June asked

softly, trying to dig without digging. She shouldn’t, but she couldn’t just

walk out the door either.

Arabella started pacing again, her face twisted and pinched with anxiety

and worry, but at least she wasn’t crying anymore.

“We don’t have insurance,” she finally moaned, her back to June as she

stared out the window. “I have no idea how we’re going to pay for this. Do

they finance hospital bills? What if he has to have open heart surgery or

something?” She whirled quickly, horrified with herself. “Oh my God, I’m

saying things like that when something could be very wrong. That’s what

makes me a terrible person. I shouldn’t even be thinking about the cost! It’s

my dad’s life here.”

“It’s logical,” June tried to offer. “That doesn’t mean that you don’t care.”

A set of slender hands flew to Arabella’s hips. The bright pink of her

dress suddenly made her skin look washed out after all the color had

drained away from her face. “I’m a terrible daughter,” Arabella said, agony

in every word. “I’m so exhausted trying to get everything figured out and

trying to support everyone. I’m just so, so tired.”

June knew she couldn’t do anything for Arabella financially. Arabella

had insurance through the company, but it didn’t extend to her parents. She

couldn’t offer her some kind of financial aid, because if anyone else found