Margot tilted her head back and let the sun soak across her. It was the first time she’d felt warm in hours. The first time she’d felt safe. She wanted it to last forever. It was a cruel twist that the sun could only ever last for so many hours before it was dragged back beneath the horizon.
The door behind her opened. Dr. Maynard stepped out and stood over her for a second, then carefully lowered herself to sit at Margot’s side.
“How are they?” Margot asked.
“They would benefit from at least an overnight stay in a hospital.” Her dark eyes were heavy as they scanned Margot’s face. “But I gather that’s not an option.”
Margot grimaced. “No.”
“Then let’s take a look at you.”
“I’m fine.”
A soft scoffing noise escaped Dr. Maynard’s throat as she picked up Margot’s hands. “You’re very much not. The cast will need to be replaced. Is this blood yours?”
“No.” Margot carefully withdrew her hands and folded them around herself, as though she could keep from falling apart with enough bracing. “A couple of scrapes. I can take care of them myself. And I’ll make do with the cast for another day.”
“But—”
“You’d just have to redo it again tomorrow morning.” That was a half truth at best. Margot didn’t know if there would be a tomorrow morning. But she was fairly certain Dr. Maynard’s efforts would be wasted if she tried to replace the bandages that day.
The doctor turned, her slim, dark face glistening in the light as she scanned the area around them. “I don’t want to know any more than what I’ve been told,” she said, speaking carefully. “But I do want to know if there’s anything in my power that will prevent my services being needed like this again.”
Margot tried to smile. She didn’t think she could form the right expression. “No.”
“Then at least let me give you a proper exam.”
“Thank you. I’d really prefer to have some space, though.”
Dr. Maynard exhaled slowly. “I understand. Call me if you change your mind.”
She rose and returned to the room, and Margot listened to the distant sounds of her cleaning and packing her supplies away. A moment later, she slipped back outside and gave Margot a brief, curt nod before turning to the driveway.
Margot continued to pick at the cast. She needed to go into the room, she knew. But the sun was warm, and the sun was safe, and she couldn’t find the energy to stand.
The door opened again. Nora moved out first, supporting Ray on her shoulder. She smiled when she saw Margot, but it was no longer the full-bodied expression that lit up her face and revealed her gums. It was small, strained. Troubled. “There you are.”