“Evelyn Cooper,” the receptionist called, her eyes looking up from her flat computer screen.
I started to rise, but Nathan was already at the counter, his broad shoulders blocking my view of the desktop terminal completely.
“We are here for the eleven o’clock with Dr. Marcus,” Nathan said.
“Of course, Mr. Cooper,” she said, tapping her keyboard with a rapid, rhythmic sound. “I see a pending balance on your secondary account from the October lab work.”
I stepped forward, reaching into my purse for our shared checkbook. “How much is the balance, Susan?”
Nathan quickly stepped between me and the glass partition, his hand resting on the counter. “We will handle the billing details at the end of the month, Susan, let us just focus on the clinical appointment today.”
“The system shows a hold on the laboratory clearance form, sir, and I cannot print the routing slip until the balance is cleared,” Susan said.
“I spoke with the office manager yesterday,” Nathan said, his voice dropping into a low, confidential register that I could barely hear. “It has been resolved on our end.”
