I grin. “You took quite a tumble.”
“What happened to me?”
“You had a heart attack, then fell off a stepladder at Brooke’s house.”
“Brooke!” Her eyes brighten and seem to focus. “Where is she, dear?”
My heart catches. “She’s gone, Miss Margaret. Remember?”
She closes her eyes and turns her face away for a moment. My heart aches as a tear trickles down her cheek. I find a tissue on the tray beside her and press it into her hand.
“I knew something awful had happened, but I forgot what.” She dabs her eyes. “Something with her head, right?”
I nod. “She had an aneurysm. A little over a month ago.”
“And her little girl?”
“I’m taking care of Lily. She’s at a friend’s house this morning.”
“Lily,” she murmurs. She wipes her eyes. “Did I dream it, or did Lily’s dad show up?”
My chest squeezes. Why does she rememberthat? “Yes.”
“I want—I want Lily to know him. There’s no substitute for family. There needs to be a line of blood.”
It sounds like something from a gothic novel. The nurse who escorted us in from the waiting room approaches to check one of Margaret’s IVs. “All—all right,” I manage.
“Is he here?” Margaret asks.
I nod, a little unnerved by the question.
“I want to see him. Can you bring him in?”
“Well, um...” Everything within me counsels against it.
“Do you want me to go get the gentleman?” the nurse asks.
“Yes,” Margaret answers before I can get out a word.
I can’t argue that he’s not immediate family, because I’m not, either.
“I’ll be right back,” the nurse says. “But you need to stay still and calm, Mrs. Moore. Your heart rate is going up.”
“Tell me about Lily,” Margaret urges.
I babble a bit. I’m describing what she ate for breakfast when Zack walks up to her bed. “Hello, Mrs. Moore.”
Margaret’s face lights up. “You were here earlier.”
“That’s right. I’m Zack Bradley.”
“Zack,” she murmurs, as if she’s trying to commit this to memory. “Have you met Lily?”
“Not yet, but I want to. Quinn showed me pictures.” His dimple flashes. “She’s a beautiful little girl.”
“Yes, she is. And so bright!”
“Are you all right, Mrs. Moore?” the nurse asks.
