“Corinna, I need you to sit down.” Bryan’s voice is calm on the other end of the line.

Each day seems to be getting exponentially harder as we lead up to the surgery. And to think I haven’t even gotten to the fun parts that involve another MRI and spending quality time with a psychologist discussing my greatest concerns about my upcoming surgery.

Instead of voicing all of this aloud, I answer with a simple “Okay” as I ease myself onto one of the stools around my workspace.

“Your primary care doctor is claiming you’ve never been a patient there.” Bryan lets out a sigh. “They’re claiming they don’t have any medical records dating back the last twelve months.”

“You have got to be kidding me, Bryan. I have receipts showing I paid the bills they sent me,” I exclaim.

“I completely believe you, Cori. I have the copies of the orders your doctor put in at Hopkins as well, but since I no longer work there, it could take weeks to pull those records. Weeks we don’t have.”

Jack. He’s behind this. “So he really means for me to die, doesn’t he?” I murmur.

“We’re not going to let that happen,” Bryan says firmly. “I don’t care if we have to rerun every test in the next month, you’re getting that thing out of you. First, I’m calling some friends in Baltimore.” Before I can respond, Bryan hangs up.

Placing the phone on the table so I don’t throw it, I get up to make my way upstairs to Ali’s office.

“The first thing we’re going to do is file a complaint with the Federal Office of Civil Rights and the Attorney General. Clearly, there’s been a violation of your rights under HIPAA.” Ali’s fuming.

Jared, who’s on speakerphone, suggests, “You should call Keene and Caleb, Ali. They’re both on a first-name basis with the AG. It might get this resolved faster.”

“Good idea, Jared. Do we know any lawyers who’d want this case?” Ali inquires.

“Salivate over it is more likely,” he chuckles. “I wonder if the AMA will want to strip the practice’s medical license over this.”

“In enough time so I don’t die first?” I wonder aloud.

Silence drops like a bomb.

“Cori, the threat of a HIPAA lawsuit, let alone the subsequent insurance fraud investigation from the highest lawyer in the nation, should be enough to produce your records miraculously,” Jared assures me soothingly. “As a lawyer, I can assure you, this is not a law you mess around with. There are both civil and criminal penalties they can face. They’ll try to save face as quickly as possible and claim it was an error.”

As much as I hate even the idea they’ll skate by this, I have to focus on my immediate needs. “How long do you think this will take?”

“Let me contact the attorney I have in mind to represent you,” Jared says. “I’d say no more than a few days.”

And that’s a few days of worrying.

“Fine, but Jared? I want them to pay when this is over.” Tears fall down my face. Ali moves from around her desk. A sob hitches in my throat as I try to talk. “I’m so stressed about this surgery already, and to have this dick be able to pull this…” For money. Greed. For something he thought he’d get so long as he could control the people around him, and it’s unraveling around him.

Like I am right now.

“I need to bake a cake. I have to get my mind off of this.” I squeeze my sister. “Thank you both for everything.”

Ali laughs darkly. “I’ve been looking for a good target to fight with over what’s happening to you. You just gave me the ability to help wage war. It’s me who should be thanking you.”

When I go home shortly after, I kick off my sneakers and drop my bag in the middle of the foyer. I should kick back and relax curled up on the couch with a comfortable blanket and sleep, but what I really want is to guzzle wine by the gallon—glass optional. I’m debating the merits between red or white when my doorbell rings.

I can tell Colby feels the same way when he crosses the threshold saying, “I thought you were going to lie down this afternoon since you haven’t been sleeping well.”

I shrug. “Planned on it. I was derailed a bit.” I look at him suspiciously. “What are you doing home?”

“I came to nap with you.” His grin is quick.

I roll my eyes. “Uh-huh. Who blabbed about my day?”

Colby opens his mouth only to snap it shut. “I’ll never tell.”

Wrapping my arm around Colby’s waist so my stomach is pushed against his side, I explain. “See, it’s like this. There are no secrets in this family.”

He scoffs. “Princess, you have no room to talk.”

He’s got me there. “Okay. When all the lies were taken away, no more secrets.” Melting into his body, I close my eyes. “Despite everything, I can’t but help to count my blessings. In the middle of this hell, we were left with something pretty special—each other.”

“I know.”

We stand together in my kitchen, just holding on to one another for a long while. Tipping my head back, I ask, “So, how was your day? Boring? Noneventful?”

“About like yours. How about we have pizza for dinner, drink wine, and do absolutely nothing but relax?”

“Sounds perfect.” Just like you.

A normal night. It’s exactly what my soul needs.