He said nothing, only took her hand and squeezed it.
The elevator stopped, the doors opened. Lucy found room 3010.
“I’ll be right here,” Hugo said. Lucy took a deep breath.
“It’s so unfair,” she whispered. “I just got her back. But you know that better than anyone.”
“I know.” Hugo kissed her forehead.
Lucy took another steadying breath and went into the room.
“Angie?” she said as she pushed aside the floral curtain that hung around the bed.
Angie was sitting up in a chair, a pretty paisley scarf on her head, a blue blanket on her lap, her iPad in hand.
“Lucy,” Angie said with a tired, happy smile. She set the iPad on the side table. “When did you get in?”
She wanted to hug Angie, but she had an IV catheter or some sort of port in her arm and was afraid to touch her. But Angie held out her free arm and Lucy took her hand. Her skin was cool and her hand too thin, but she gave Lucy a strong squeeze.
“Twenty minutes ago.”
Angie’s eyes widened. She pointed at the door. “Go. Now. Go away and come back tomorrow. I’ll still be here.”
Lucy ignored the marching orders and instead sat down on a spare chair in the room. “You have to stay the night?”
“With my medical history, they’re being overcautious,” Angie said with a shrug. “It is what it is. Now you go away rightnowand come backlater.”
“I just wanted you to know we made it. You want me to give you a ride home tomorrow or feed the cats tonight or something?”
“The cats are with my neighbor. And I have a ride. What I want you to do is go out that door, get your son, and take him to Clock Island. And I want you to take videos and pictures and then send them all to me. And then I want to see you tomorrow and Christopher later this week when I’m home. Okay? Now go before I get really mad. You’re interrupting my reading.” She picked up her iPad again.
“I’m going.” Lucy raised her hands in surrender. “If you’re gonna be grumpy.”
Angie laughed but the laugh didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thanks for coming, sis.”
Lucy took her sister’s hand again. “I used to get so mad when they wouldn’t let me visit you in the hospital.”
“Lucky you. Now you’re old enough. It’s fun, right?”
“The funnest.” Lucy tried to smile, but couldn’t quite pull it off. “You okay?”
“I’m at peace.” She smiled tiredly. “So go. Shoo. I’ll see you soon. Please hug my nephew for me.”
“Will do.” Lucy started for the door, then remembered something. “Oh, Christopher gave me something last night to give to you. It’s weird, but he really wanted you to have it.”
“Then I really want to have it.”
Lucy opened her bag and pulled out a wad of blue tissue paper tied up with a shoelace. “As you can see, he also wrapped it himself.”
Angie took the gift from her, grinning as she untied the shoelace and tore off the paper. Under all that wrapping was a hammerhead shark toy, the same one Lucy had given him.
“He loves sharks,” Lucy said. “You should be honored. That hammerhead is his favorite.”
Angie held the plastic shark in her hand as if it were a priceless antique. Then she wrapped her fingers around the sleek shark’s small body and held it against her chest, at her heart. And right then and there, without any fanfare or ceremony or fireworks or tears, Lucy forgave Angie, and they were sisters, real sisters, for the first time in their lives.
Angie said, “Tell him I am honored.”
When Lucy went into the hallway, Hugo was still waiting for her. He stood up out of the chair and held out his arms. She went to him, and he held her close and tight.
