"You did great," she said as I reached her.
"You don't look well," said softly. "Have you eaten today? Are you sleeping well?"
"I'm fine, Nate."
"You're not fine. You're pale, you've lost weight, and you can barely keep your eyes open." I touched her elbow, guiding herinto the hallway where we had more privacy. "I want you to see a doctor."
"I don't need a doctor."
"Ember, please. This isn't normal exhaustion. Something is wrong." I kept my voice low but I wasn’t going to back off it. "Let me make an appointment with one of the internists. Just a checkup to rule out anything serious."
"I said I'm fine." Her tone held an edge I rarely heard from her and her eyes were fiery.
It made me draw back for a second to consider how I was treating her. "Can we drop this?"
I wanted to insist that she stop being stubborn and let someone help her.
But the look in her eyes stopped me.
She didn't want me prying and I had no right.
I wasn't her father, nor her official partner.
"Alright," I said quietly. "But if you get worse, promise me you'll see someone."
"I promise."
We left through the main entrance, and I immediately regretted not using the staff exit.
A small crowd had gathered on the front steps, maybe fifteen people holding signs and shouting as we emerged into the afternoon sunlight.
I registered the words on the signs before I fully processed what we were walking into.
Lightkeeper or Lawbreaker?
Family Values Start with Real Families
Daddy Claus Needs a Nanny
Every one of their signs felt like a slap to the face.
This self-righteous group of citizens had taken it upon themselves to form a protest outside my pediatric talk simply to defame me.
There was no reason for this.
It had nothing to do with Ember or the Lightkeeper duties.
It was my job and I didn't appreciate their causing problems for me for no reason.
The reporters surged forward as we pushed past them, heading toward my car.
I had hoped to speak to Ember privately for a moment, but it appeared that wouldn’t happen.
Now I had no choice but to shuttle her away, making it look like I was whisking her off in my car for some private destination, just as the crowd's questions started hammering home their crude point.
"Dr. Bradley, are you proud of corrupting a woman young enough to be your daughter?"
"Ember, how much is he paying you to play house?"
