“What?” I said just as Drew seemed to choke on his own saliva.

Dr. Lin scooted a little closer. “Someone suggested to me that maybe you missed a period and didn’t know that can happen without being pregnant.”

“Are you kidding me right now? Whoever told you that was probably trying to embarrass me!”

I wanted to run right out of there, but I told myself to hang on, that we had a mission, and that it was okay. At least Drew was on my side—though, truthfully, I might have preferred he not be here for this.

“I just want to make sure you know everything,” Dr. Lin said calmly. “I know parents in our community aren’t always great with sex education, so I’ve gotten used to being the one to, you know. Talk about all that.”

And what a fine job you’re doing, I thought sarcastically.

Luckily, Drew piped up. “I think we’re good on that. Can we move on?”

Dr. Lin seemed to have forgotten Drew was there. But the words must have sunk in because he said, “I’m sorry. I overstepped. That’s a danger of treating patients you know well. I apologize.”

And here was my chance. “That’s okay. It must be hard. Is it especially difficult when your patients are very sick? And you have to tell them, treat them, inform their families?” His eyes met mine, but he didn’t say anything. “Was it hard to tell my dad?”

He let out a breath. “Oh, he changed his mind and told you. It wasn’t as hard to tell him since his news wasn’t all that bad, as you know, but it’s obviously still awful. But being able to help is the silver lining. I’m glad we caught it early.”

“Me too,” said a tiny voice, which, yes, was mine, but I was now functioning on autopilot as my mind worked to process everything.

He was such a terrible doctor. I guess I could accept how much he had overstepped with me earlier given that it was this very trait that was allowing me entry into my father’s condition, but I also couldn’t stop thinking about how my parents needed to see someone more professional. Maybe he was at least good at diagnosing and treating, I tried to reason.

I had to fight my urge to demand he tell me more, or to pull the fire alarm and steal a look at my dad’s files. But I stayed still because I knew Dr. Lin, and the info dump was coming; he loved to hear himself talk, especially as the expert.