CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Portland Children’s Hospital was newer than the county hospital. That explained why everything there was fresh and bright to appeal to young patients. The facility impressed Elisabeth, but she was lost.
Alice had a better chance of finding her way back through the looking glass than Elisabeth had in locating the waiting room.
She must have made a wrong turn when she walked out of the restroom.
Or several. Worst of all, she couldn’t find a floor plan or a map anywhere.
Even the signs seemed to lead her astray.
I’m walking around in circles.
Of course, she’d felt the same way ever since the neurosurgeon had spoken to her after examining Caitlin.
His words kept swirling through Elisabeth’s head.
An acute bleed was putting pressure on Caitlin’s brain.
She needed immediate surgery. Something about a pressure probe being inserted into her skull.
Relieving pressure by evacuating the hematoma.
It was all very confusing and frightening.
The doctor had also talked about the risks— permanent nerve damage, permanent brain damage, death—and alternatives to surgery—none.
Elisabeth shivered. That seemed like hours ago, but maybe she’d just lost track of time. A part of her wished this was nothing more than a nightmare, but the pain was too real for her to be dreaming.
Where was Henry?
She wished he would arrive and glanced around as if he would magically appear. Funny, but she wouldn’t put that past him, given everything else he’d done for her.
His friends had been waiting for her as he’d promised.
They’d met her just inside the hospital from the helicopter pad as if they’d been tracking the flight plan.
Laurel, an interior designer and mother of Henry’s goddaughter, greeted Elisabeth with a hug and handed her a bottle of water to drink.
Her husband, Brett, a financial adviser who seemed like an all-around nice guy, was also Henry’s best friend.
Brett had told her that he would deal with admission details and only asked her for help if he couldn’t answer a question.
Elisabeth was so appreciative of that since they were strangers to her.
However, she realized Brett had been one of the references Cynthia had given for Henry, so this was Elisabeth’s second time speaking with him.
She wanted to get back to Laurel and Brett and wait for an update from the doctor.
As she wandered around the floor, Elisabeth realized nothing looked familiar. Was this still the same wing?
Trying to make her way back to the waiting room, Elisabeth passed a dozen pink roses in a crystal vase and a stuffed pony sitting on the top shelf of a cart. Caitlin would love the stuffed animal. If only she were here to see it…
Emotion clogged Elisabeth’s throat. Her sister had to be okay. She just had to be.
Standing at an intersection of three hallways, Elisabeth’s vision blurred. She rubbed her eyes, deciding to go straight. The left and right hallways hadn’t led her to the waiting area where she’d left Laurel and Brett. That much she knew.
Elisabeth needed to get back. She needed news about Caitlin’s status. She needed Henry.
What was keeping him?
She couldn’t wait to see Henry. He would help her ignore the antiseptic smell in the air. He would help her see things weren’t as horrible as they seemed. He would help her feel better.
Her work boots against the sanitary tile floor echoed through the hallway. She walked past the same bank of elevators. Again.
Her shoulders slumped, and tears welled once again. She blinked, not wanting to break down out in the open.
Elisabeth took a breath and another. All she needed was to be pointed in the right direction. If she waited in one spot, maybe someone would come by who could show her the way.
As she leaned against the wall, she noticed a bronze plaque engraved with a dedication hanging opposite her.
The C. he’d changed everything. The kids would be devastated.
What would Elisabeth tell them?
She dried her face.
Tell them the truth.
That Henry was only planning to work at the farm temporarily, and his time was up. The kids didn’t need to know any more than that. She could save them from finding out he’d lied to them.
Besides, all of them had known Henry would leave when Manny returned. Though Elisabeth hadn’t understood why if he had no job or home to go to. She’d hoped they could change his mind. That she would change his mind.
She’d been a fool. Such a fool.
Of course he wouldn’t stay.
The nurse’s words tortured Elisabeth. He’s a rich playboy who dates famous models and actresses.
Not poor, boring farm girls from Berry Patch.
All her energy, all her strength drained. She sagged against a tiled wall.
No. She couldn’t give up. Elisabeth straightened. She wouldn’t let Henry do that to her. His lies hurt, but she would recover. And so would the kids after he left. They had no other choice.
She opened her purse, found her cell phone, and opened her payment app. Elisabeth had never transferred Cynthia’s money to her bank account. A part of her had been afraid to.
Elisabeth stared at all the zeros. She needed the twenty-five thousand dollars, especially with Caitlin’s head injury, but it had been given to her under false pretenses. So had the help. There was only one thing she could do—return the money.
With a trembling hand, she sent the money back to Cynthia, who could repay her boss.
Henry’s adventure was over.
He could stop lying and start laughing. About his time spent on the struggling farm. About three orphaned kids. About her.
But Elisabeth had a sinking feeling it would be a long time before she or any of the kids would feel like laughing again.