‘Knock, knock.’ Hayley’s head appeared around the curtain. ‘My turn now. How’s the patient?’
‘Not patient at all. I hate hospitals.’
‘Me too. Full of ill people like you.’ She sat on the side of his bed. ‘You dressed under there?’
‘If I’m not?’ he asked, a grin spreading across his face.
‘You are too sick to be making lewd suggestions.’
‘You’ve not spoken to Doctor Khan yet then?’
‘She may have mentioned the words “stress” and “panic”. You don’t have to worry; if it affects your libido, we can deal with it together.’ Hayley patted his hand.
‘Is that supposed to be funny? I’m in here, perspiring and struggling to breathe. Kick a man while he’s down, why don’t you?’
She slipped her fingers in between his then. ‘You know I didn’t mean it.’
‘I know you did.’ He smiled but let a sigh pass from his lips. ‘I don’t want to keep doing this. Because every time it happens, I think…’
‘You’re going to die,’ Hayley finished.
‘You got it.’
‘You work too hard. And you’ve coiled things up inside for so long, you’re tighter than… I don’t know… tighter than a Botoxed actress.’
‘I’m not sure how I feel about that.’
‘You need to do this test and then you need a break, whateverthe outcome.’ Hayley smiled. ‘I can think of a few things to occupy your time, Clark.’ She walked her fingers up his bare chest.
‘I bet you can.’
Someone cleared their throat and Hayley yanked her hand away and turned her head to greet Cynthia.
‘Sorry,’ Hayley said, slipping off the bed.
‘Oliver, the doctor from the cardiac unit is going to come here to see you. For the tests,’ Cynthia spoke. ‘But he said you don’t have to do this today if you’re not feeling up to it.’
Oliver shook his head. ‘No. I want to do it, Mom. Whatever happens, I can’t be in limbo any more. Tell them I’m ready.’
59
DEAN WALKER’S APARTMENT, DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN
‘Easy does it. Mind the top step. That’s it. Nice and slow,’ Hayley said as they climbed the stairs to Dean’s apartment.
‘Will you quit talking like that or I’m going home,’ Oliver snapped.
‘Calm thoughts. You don’t want to stress yourself out.’
‘Hayley, I’m fine.’
‘You’re not fine. You’ve had needles in here and lines in there and lots of pills…’
‘Just another day in the life of a junkie.’
She slapped his arm.
‘Ow, that was one of the needle holes.’
