In truth, it was hard to fault Lauren for resenting the younger sister who’d usurped their mother’s attention and whose ballet aspirations had made any semblance of normal family life impossible.
But after she woke up, maybe they could initiate a few repairs in their relationship—a task that had suddenly taken on new urgency.
And her sisterwouldwake up. Any other outcome was unthinkable.
The elevator doors parted, and Devyn stepped out. Clenching her fingers around the strap of her purse, she approached the ICU. Stopped beside the intercom. Took a steadying breath and depressed the button.
When the doors swooshed open, she forced herself to walk through.
A scrubs-clad woman at a central station looked over. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. I’m here to see Lauren Collier. I’m her sister.”
“Oh yes. I spoke with you when you called from San Francisco.” She circled around the counter. “I’ll take you back.”
“How is she doing?” Devyn followed the woman, lungs balking as she waited for the answer. Hopefully no complications had arisen since she’d checked in during her layover.
“No changes. All her vitals remain strong.” The woman pausedby a room with glass doors. “I’ll let her neurologist know you’re here. She wanted to speak with you as soon as you arrived.”
A surge of unease zipped through her. “Why?”
“To discuss her treatment, I expect.” The woman motioned toward the room. “Feel free to talk to your sister. Often people who are otherwise unresponsive can hear what’s being said. Would you like a soft drink or water? We also have coffee and tea.”
After declining that offer, Devyn took a slow breath and entered the room.
The woman in the bed was Lauren, no question about it. Same pert nose. Same naturally long, curving lashes. Same high cheekbones.
But her big sister had aged.
A lot, for someone who was only thirty-five.
Though her features were slack in repose, the embedded twin creases above her nose were new. So was the fan of fine lines at the corner of each eye. Her once-long dark hair was gone, replaced by short-cropped locks containing a few strands of silver.
The past thirteen years must have held some serious challenges for her, even if she’d never indicated there were any problems in her clipped responses to phone calls and texts.
Yet though the changes wrought by time and stress were apparent, there was little visible evidence of the injuries she’d suffered in the fall, other than an elastic bandage on her left wrist.
Except for all the medical devices she was hooked up to.
Devyn took a quick inventory.
Heart and blood pressure monitor. IV drip. Nasal cannula. Oxygen monitor on Lauren’s finger.
The rest of the equipment was unfamiliar.
And what other stuff was attached to her beneath the sheet?
Devyn groped for the bottom of the bed. Held on tight.
Hard as she’d tried to prepare for this moment, seeing her sister comatose was like a punch in the gut.
Maybe she and Lauren weren’t as close as they could have beenfor sisters separated in age by a mere two years, but with Dad gone, Mom remarried and living a new life in Paris, and Dennis apparently out of the picture, the only real family the two of them had was each other.
Lauren had to recover so they could make a new start.
Blinking back the sudden mist in her vision, Devyn moved beside the bed and laid her hand over Lauren’s. Tried to call up a cheery tone. “Hey, sis. It’s me, Devyn. I heard you were off in la-la land and decided to come out here to keep an eye on you. And I’m sticking close until you decide to rejoin the human race. We have a ton of catching up to do. I’m between seasons now, and I plan to stay awhile.”
“That’s good news.”
