"You should make an appointment with the Chief of Staff," Alex told Cate.

"Who?" Cate asked.

"Dr. Franklin. He's like the CEO of the hospital," Alex explained. "When patients can't afford medical care that will save their lives, the hospital just needs his approval and then we can provide medical care pro bono."

"Do you think he would see me?" Cate asked hopefully.

"Yes, you just need to make an appointment with his secretary, Donna. I'll show you where her office is," Alex offered.

"That'd be great." Cate smiled. "What do you think the chances are of him approving Lux's care?"

"I don't know. He usually approves it as long as the patient really can't afford it. Your situation is different, though, since Lux's care is being paid for by the State," Alex replied.

Cate's face fell.

"Hey, it can't hurt to try," Alex said gently.

Cate forced herself to smile at Alex. Alex had been really helpful. "You're right. I will. Thanks so much."

Alex showed Cate where Donna's office was. "Good luck."

"Thanks again," Cate said gratefully.

"I'll need all the luck I can get," Cate muttered under her breath. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, before knocking on the office door.

"Come in."

Cate opened the door and entered Donna's office. Donna was an older woman with graying hair. She looked at Cate expectantly.

"I, uh, wanted to make an appointment with the Chief of Staff," Cate said quietly.

"What's this regarding?" Donna asked.

"My daughter, Lux Cassidy," Cate replied.

Donna's expression was quizzical.

"She's a patient here. She needs surgery," Cate added.

"Who's your daughter's doctor?" Donna asked.

Cate wracked her brain for the name. "Uh, Dr. Cooper?"

Donna made a note. "Is there a problem with Dr. Cooper?"

"No," Cate said quickly. She blushed and looked down. "I, uh, can't afford to pay for Lux's surgery and a nurse, Alex, said I should talk to Dr. Franklin."

Donna nodded and pulled up Dr. Franklin's calendar. "I can get you in next Friday at 2:30."

"Next Friday? Isn't there anything sooner?" Cate said.

"No. Dr. Franklin is very busy. He has meetings off site every day this week," Donna replied.

Cate frowned. "It's really important that I speak with him."

"I understand that, but I'm afraid Dr. Franklin is unavailable," Donna said firmly.

Cate didn't know how she was going to wait that long. This meeting would determine whether or not she could be with her daughter. Everything was riding on this meeting.

After school Cate flipped through the phone book, looking for medical clinics in the Portland area. She knew clinics provided medical care for the poor, but she didn't know how it worked. Was it free? Or just less expensive?

All Cate knew was that she couldn't just sit and do nothing for a week.

"Portland Health Clinic. This is Jane. How can I help you?"

"Hi. I've never been to a clinic before and I was wondering how much it costs?" Cate asked.

"Do you have insurance?" Jane asked.

"Yeah, I do, but it's for my daughter and she doesn't," Cate replied.

"We take the uninsured and indigent. Most services are free. What's going on with your daughter?" Jane said.

"She has a heart condition. She has a, uh, hole in her heart. She needs surgery," Cate said.

"We don't have any surgeons on staff," Jane said.

"Do you know if any other clinics do?" Cate asked.

"No, you'll need to take your daughter to the hospital," Jane replied.

Cate frowned. "Are there any other options? There is just no way I can afford the surgery."

"Make an appointment with the Chief of Staff. He can approve pro bono treatments if the patient's life is endangered," Jane said.

"Thanks," Cate muttered before she hung up.

Cate flipped through the phone book, this time looking for insurance companies. Maybe if she could afford insurance for Lux, she wouldn't have to pay for the surgery.

An hour later Cate slammed the phone down on the kitchen table. She'd called several insurance companies. She couldn't afford to buy insurance for Lux from any of them. And, even if she could, they only paid for part of the medical care and then Cate had to pay the rest.

Cate knew Laverne really couldn't afford to help her. She wondered if her dad could. Her dad had left when she was little and had never contacted her. He owes me, Cate thought.

Cate was waiting for Laverne when she got home from work.

"Hi. How was school?" Laverne greeted her daughter.

"Good. How was work?" Cate said, smiling at her mother.

Laverne eyed her daughter suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"Just because I'm being nice, it doesn't mean I want something," Cate said defensively.

"Yes, it does," Laverne said.

"OK, OK. Maybe I want something," Cate admitted.

Laverne stared at Cate expectantly.

"Maybe you should sit down," Cate said. Her father wasn't exactly her mom's favorite conversation topic.

Laverne obliged.

"Do you want a glass of wine?" Cate offered.

"Are you pregnant again?" Laverne demanded, her suspicions aroused by Cate's unusual behavior.

"What? No!" Cate cried out. She glanced down at her stomach wondering if she'd gained weight.

Laverne frowned. "Last time you acted like this-"

"I'm not pregnant again," Cate interrupted. She sat down beside her mother. "I just, I wanted to know where dad is."

Laverne's frown deepened. She massaged her temples, as though thinking of Cate's father gave her a headache. "Cate, you know perfectly well that I haven't heard from your father in years."

"I know! You don't even know where he is?" Cate said.

"No," Laverne replied. "And I don't care."

"You have to know where he is. What if we needed to contact him?" Cate pressed.

"What could you possibly need to contact him for?" Laverne demanded.

"Hypothetically," Cate qualified. "Like, what if Abby or I needed a kidney or something. How would we get in touch with him?"

Laverne rolled her eyes. "Do you need a kidney?"

"That's not the point," Cate retorted.

"Honestly, Cate, he hasn't done a damn thing for you in years. Do you really think he'd give you a kidney?" Laverne said, exasperated.

"Forget the kidney! I really need to talk to him," Cate said, her tone desperate.

Laverne's expression softened slightly. "What's wrong?"

"I just need to talk to my father," Cate replied, tears in her eyes.

"If you want me to help you, you have to tell me what's going on," Laverne insisted.

Cate hesitated. She knew how her mother felt about Lux. "I want to ask him to help pay for Lux's medical care."

Laverne snickered.

Cate glared at her mother. "What's so funny?"

"He never even paid for your medical care," Laverne said bitterly. "He's not going to pay for your daughter's."

"I won't know until I ask," Cate said angrily.

"I know," Laverne said firmly.

"Are you going to help me or not?" Cate asked.

"I'd love to help you, but I don't know where he is," Laverne lied. "I need a glass wine."

Cate rolled her eyes.

Cate stomped up to her room angrily. She slammed the door behind her and flopped down on her bed.

How could she find her father? She didn't even know what state he lived in, so it wouldn't be as simple as looking him up in the phone book.

His parents were dead and he didn't have any relatives that Cate could contact.

Everything just felt so hopeless. No one would help her. She didn't know what to do.

Cate cried herself to sleep, not knowing what to do or who to turn to. She had no one. There was no way in hell she was going to let her daughter feel this way. She had to figure something out. She just had to.