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I sed hard and said, “That’s the correct number”

I’d become a consu I would ever become comfortable with so I dropped my eyes when I answered her

She punched the keys on her keyboard and waited several long seconds and then shook her head “I’h You’ll need to contact them yourself to try to resolve this,” she said as she shifted her chair and folded her hands on the desk “Until then, I’m afraid I’ll need you to pay up front”

“What?” I asked in surprise “I…I don’t have that kind of money,” I whispered

There was little pity in the wo Worn, ripped jeans that were just a little too big for ured out how to get rid of and a tattered leather jacket that was about ten years out of style

“We can set you up with a payment plan, but I’ll need ten percent of the balance today”

I did the calculations in my head and felt h money saved up to cover half the upfront payment she wanted

I shook my head “I’m sorry, I…I could do a hundred dollars,” I offered desperately, though even that amount would hit me hard I’d been on such a roller coaster of emotions since my visit to Matty’s pediatrician two days earlier, that I hadn’t even thought this far ahead

“I’m afraid that we’ll need the full ten percent today before you’ll be able to see Dr Spengler We do accept credit cards”

I felt bile rising inler said Matty needs to have these tests done today” I looked around the s to find the older, silver haired doctor the pediatrician had referred us to and that we’d seen for the first time just yesterday “We…ere here yesterday! He said he needed to do the tests to figure out the best course of treatment!”

I knew , but I couldn’t rein in my terror as the reality settled on me like a heavy, lead blanket

“I’m sorry, Mr Travers-”