3. Linda
LINDA
The twenty minutes ticked away quickly in the quiet hum of the cafeteria, and soon Linda, Michael, and Anna were walking back down the long linoleum hallway toward George’s room. The air conditioning hummed overhead, blowing a steady, cool draft that smelled faintly of antiseptic and floor wax.
As they rounded the corner toward the step-down unit, Michael slowed his pace slightly, glancing between his sister and Anna.
"Do you think we should tell Uncle George about the hotel?" Michael asked, keeping his voice low so it wouldn't carry past the nurse's station.
"We should ask the doctor," Anna said, echoing the exact piece of advice Darius had offered them earlier back at the lake.
"I think so too," Linda said, adjusting the strap of her handbag over her shoulder as they walked. "We know the hotel is a massive source of stress for Uncle George, but hearing about the legal battle and the fallout could also have a bad effect on his heart right now."
"Yes, agreed," Michael said with a quick, decisive nod of his head.
They saw the doctor standing just outside George's door, reviewing a chart with a nurse before signing off on a metal clipboard. He looked up as the three of them approached, closing the folder with a snap.
"Ah, there you are," Dr. Harrison said, offering them a professional, measured smile. “You can go in and see George now.”
"How is he doing, doctor?" Linda asked before anyone else could.
"He's getting better," Dr. Harrison answered, his eyes moving between them. “We just need to keep his stress levels as low as possible.”
"That is why we need to ask you something important before we go in," Michael told the doctor.
"Sure, what is it?" Dr. Harrison looked at Michael questioningly.
"Our uncle has spent the last year under an enormous amount of stress regarding Hearts Hotel," Michael explained, keeping his tone careful.
"The legal trouble with the acquisition has finally been sorted out today, and the town council is throwing out the bad filings early next week.
We want to tell him the good news, but we're worried about the shock.
Do you think he's strong enough to hear it, or will it raise his blood pressure too much? "
Dr. Harrison considered the question for a moment, his gaze shifting thoughtfully toward the door to George’s room before returning to them.
"I'm glad you asked instead of just walking in and dropping the news," Dr. Harrison said, shaking his head slightly.
"Right now, his heart rhythm is stabilizing, but he is still very fragile.
Complete surprises, even good ones, could potentially cause a sudden spike in adrenaline and blood pressure that we want to avoid at this stage. "
"So we shouldn't tell him tonight?" Linda asked, feeling a slight drop of disappointment in her chest for Uncle George's sake.
"Not all at once, and not in detail," Dr. Harrison advised, stepping closer to give them professional guidance.
"You can mention that things are moving in a positive direction with the property, keep it vague, and gauge his reaction.
But leave the full breakdown of the legal filings and the corporate battle for another few days until he's completely off the cardiac monitor. "
"That makes sense," Anna murmured, looking through the glass window into the still hospital room where Uncle George lay resting against the pillows.
"We'll keep it light," Michael promised, tapping the doctor's forearm gratefully. "Thank you, Doctor."
The doctor stepped away, walking down the passage, and as they approached George’s room door, a nurse came out.
“I’m sorry, only two at a time,” the nurse instructed.
Anna stopped near the door frame as Linda and Michael reached for the handle, stepping back to give them room.
"I'll hang back out here," Anna said, offering a small, encouraging nod. "The nurse was clear that he can only handle two visitors at a time right now. You two go in first."
"Thanks, Anna," Linda murmured, giving Anna’s arm a gentle squeeze before following Michael into the room.
The heavy wooden door clicked shut behind them, sealing out the hum of the corridor.
Uncle George was sitting slightly propped up against a stack of white hospital pillows.
His face was still pale, and his large frame looked unnaturally small beneath the blankets, but his eyes were clear and focused as he looked up.
"Hello, you two," George croaked, his voice raspy from days of oxygen therapy, though a faint, recognizable spark of his usual stubborn humor touched his lips.
"Hello, Uncle George," Linda said, rushing over to the side of the bed to take his calloused hand in hers and kiss his forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got run over by a delivery truck," George grunted, though his fingers tightened reassuringly over hers. He looked past her shoulder toward Michael. "Where are the kids? I feel like I haven’t seen them in years."
"They're probably back at the house now," Michael explained, stepping up to the opposite side of the bed and resting a hand on his uncle's shoulder. "The ICU rules were strict, but now that you're in the step-down unit, we promise to bring them before the festival dance tomorrow night."
"Good," George mumbled, leaning his head back against the pillow with a heavy sigh.
"It gets too quiet in this place. A man starts losing his mind just listening to those monitors tick all day.
" He paused, his gaze shifting toward the window where the golden orange twilight was fading into dusk.
"Thank goodness for Anna, who has been at my bedside these past few days. "
"I see you and Anna are getting along again," Linda said, smiling down at him.
“Mmm,” was all George said in response to Linda’s light probing of the state of his and Anna’s renewed relationship.
Changing the subject, he let out a low, disgruntled noise in his throat.
"I can’t believe I'm missing the Lake Games this year.” He rubbed a hand over his face.
“I haven’t missed a game for forty years. "
“I know, Uncle George,” Linda sighed and fluffed a pillow behind him. His changing the subject away from Anna did not go unnoticed by Linda. “But there is always next year.”
"Rest assured, Uncle George, that the games are not the same without you out there," Michael told him, his tone sincere. "But don’t worry, Maggie and I have got the team in shape."
"Yeah, and I really wish you were at them," Linda grumbled, rolling her eyes in good-natured exaggeration. "There's no one around to rein in Maggie and Michael. They've completely taken over as co-captains, and they're running the Hearts Hotel team like a military regiment."
George let out a raspy, genuine chuckle that made his chest heave slightly. "Is that right?" He glanced at his nephew. “I hope we’re at least in the lead and you haven’t let those Eagle View nerds win.”
“As I said, Uncle George,” Michael’s eyes glinted cheekily. “Maggie and I have this under control and we’re in the lead.”
"They appointed a vice-captain," Linda added, shaking her head, "Penny Rawlings, who is a guest at the hotel, and she’s just as tough and competitive as Maggie and Michael."
"Penny?" George repeated, a sudden, bright amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. "I like her already.”
"She actually bought the Bradley mansion," Linda told him. "She’s doing it up to live in.”
“Oh, really?" George’s eyes widened. “That old place needed a new owner that would give it some TLC.”
“Penny loves renovating old houses,” Linda explained, a slight smile lifting the side of her mouth. “I think there’s something going on between her and Martin.”
“Oh, now that’s interesting,” George said. “I hope she’s a nice person. Martin doesn’t need to be hurt again.”
“I think she’s good for him,” Linda assured her uncle. “They love the same things.”
“I believe Penny’s father used to restore classic cars and Penny picked up his love for it,” Michael continued telling his uncle about Penny. “She’s also been hurt.”
“Not in the same way as Martin,” Linda was quick to add. “Her now ex-husband was cheating on her.”
“What a scumbag,” George hissed. “I’m looking forward to meeting all these new friends you’ve made here this summer.”
Linda felt her cheeks pinken at the thought of Darius, as he was a very special new friend to her, but she decided not to tell her uncle about it just yet.
“Yes, Penny came to town with Isabel, Emma, Isabel’s granddaughter, and Isabel’s brother Darius, who is also Penny’s boss and dear friend,” Linda rambled, hoping her uncle didn’t notice how pink her cheeks were.
“Good grief,” George chuckled. “That was quite the mouthful, Linda.”
“Sorry, but there is so much to tell you, Uncle George.” Linda sat down in the chair, her hand still linked with her uncle's as Michael sat on the other side of him.
“Oh, and Martin isn’t the only one that’s found someone new in his life,” Michael added. “Owen and Isabel look like they are in a relationship too.”
“So this is a summer of love,” George commented, looking from Michael to Linda. “So Tom and Lila started a series of love stories.”
“Seems that way,” Linda agreed and then grinned at her brother teasingly. “Like Michael and Maggie.”
“Oh, yes, that’s right,” George turned to look at his nephew who was no longer squirming in his seat. “Anna told me that you and Maggie are now together.”
“Didn’t we tell you that before you landed in the ICU?” Michael reminded George.
“No,” George answered, shaking his head. “I did assume, though, as the two of you came in together to see me right before that.”
“It’s still new,” Michael told him and Linda saw the spark in her brother’s eyes. She was so happy for him and her best friend. “But I can already tell you, I think I want to marry her.”
Both Linda and George’s jaws dropped slightly open as they stared at him.
“Don’t rush into things, son,” George warned. “Give the relationship time to breathe.”