The Essentials of Rumi, she read, and then she was opening the front cover and reading Dr. Drayton’s inscription:

“To Katie (My favorite 16-year-old)—I hope this book will come to mean as much to you as it has to me. All my best, Nick Drayton”

Katie didn’t want to cry, but as with every other area of her life, she apparently had no say in the matter, because the tears came anyway. She covered her eyes with her free hand and then she lost it. Hiccupping sobs gripped her entire body.

“You’re going to be fine,” Dr. Drayton said as he slipped his arms around her. She gripped his shirt as she cried against his chest. This was what it felt like to lose someone. It would be no different than if he’d died. She was never going to see him again. She cried harder. He ran his hand over the back of her head. “You’re going to be fine,” he said the words over and over.

Katie felt embarrassed when she was finally able to step away from him, and then, without a word, she opened his office door and stepped out into the waiting room. Her father looked up from his cell phone, and she saw his eyes narrow in concern.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “Can we go?”

“Are you okay?” He touched her arm, looking down into her face.

“Yes. God.” She stepped away from him. “I just want to go home.”

“I need to have a word with Dr. Drayton first. I’ll just be a minute.”

Chapter 22

22

Lina picked up her cell phone with the intention of calling Phil to see if the appointment with Katie was over but was immediately distracted by a screen full of unread text messages. They were all from the same number, which she didn’t recognize.

She sat down on the edge of her bed and opened the first text, her eyebrows pulled together in confusion as she realized they weren’t actual texts but pictures of a text conversation. She saw the name Phil Hunter on the top of the screen. They were conversations between Phil and whomever had sent her the messages. Her throat constricted at the realization it was a conversation between Phil and Kim. She read the first message, which was dated March eighteenth. Phil’s text appeared gray, and Kim’s followed in blue:

Phil: On my way. We’ll spend the night at your place and leave for New York on the 8 a.m.

Kim: I might be in the shower. If I am, join me…

Lina opened the next text:

March 22, 4:30 p.m.

Phil: Can you meet me in the apt at 5 p.m.? I have an hour.

Kim: Of course

March 23, 11:00 a.m.

Phil: Lunch?

Kim: Yes, where?

Phil: Apt at noon

March 24, 10:30 a.m.

Phil: I can come by at noon for a couple of hours. Good?