** Harper **
"He's got nothing to do with you, Harper." Eli took half a step forward, blocking her from Emory's mother. "You don't need to go see him, whatever he might think he has to say to you."
"Oh, of course she doesn't have to. That was by no means a request, just something he mentioned while I was in there." Emory's mother smiled again. "Anyway, I will be heading out now that he's feeling better. Don't come home too late, Emory."
As if knowing that her presence was making the new visitors uncomfortable, she left quickly, leaving only the three young people standing in the waiting room and staring at each other in somewhat skeptical silence.
"I doubt my dad has enough energy right now to say anything harsh or mean to you," Emory offered at last with a shrug. "If you want to hear him out, shouldn't hurt to go in. We'll be right outside anyway."
