Sherry pulled Jake’s overheated body closer into her embrace and looked up at the clock situated over the waiting room’s entrance. It was just after eight. They had been at the hospital for almost two hours.

A toddler screamed on the other side of the room and a few adults coughed. One loudly complaining drunkard was dragged outside by two security guards while various phones rang behind the sliding doors. The place was packed and smelled of old sweat, stale cigarette smoke, and vomit. She silently prayed that Jake wouldn’t catch anything further on top of his current infection. Not that Sherry could afford to be sick either. Lying sick in bed didn’t pay the bills.

Sherry’s belly grumbled as if agreeing. Or maybe it was simply hunger. She hadn’t eaten since… It took her a moment to realize that she hadn’t eaten since having a quick breakfast this morning.

Maybe, if they got seen shortly, they wouldn’t have to spend half the night here, like last time. She could then have a bite to eat back at home and get at least a couple hours of sleep before tomorrow’s workday.

Sherry caressed Jake’s sweat-drenched forehead. Despite this being a loud, stuffy place, Jake was sleeping. But his heart was beating frantically. God, he had to be fine.

“Finally!”

Sherry flinched and turned to see the strange woman, who had helped her with Fred earlier and had offered to drive her home, standing there staring at her with huge eyes.

Sherry stared back. The woman’s clothes looked expensive and her long, dark brown hair was windblown but seemed to have seen a stylist recently. Everything about her screamed money, so what was she doing in this waiting room? Surely she could afford much better treatment. Not that she appeared to be sick.

The woman stepped up to her. “This is the third hospital I’ve driven to.” She smiled. “At least you chose well with this one. My family has donated a lot to this one over the years.”

Sherry blinked. “Are you talking to me?”

Jake shifted in her arms, and she held him even tighter. “Is it our turn?” he mumbled.

“No, baby. Go back to sleep.”

He snuggled his face to her shoulder and nodded off again.

The strange woman held a fifty-dollar bill to the old guy sitting on the chair next to Sherry. “I have a feeling you want to sit somewhere else.”

The pale man ogled the bill, then snatched it out of the woman’s hand and jumped up with an agility that belied his fragile posture.

The woman sat down beside Sherry. “If you hadn’t run away from me earlier, your son would feel much better already.”

Was this woman mad? Sherry spun away. “Leave me alone.”