"What is it?" I asked with a smile.

Alice bit her lip. "Elaine, is my surgery going to cost a lot of money?"

My heart skipped a beat. Was she hesitating because of the cost?

"No, it's not that much," I assured her. "And don't worry about the money. Your brother just got a new job as a technical engineer. His salary is pretty substantial."

Alice remained silent.

I moved closer to her. There was a concept in psychology ...