Before She Was Found(59)

“Cora really likes cats,” Jordyn says, sliding the sealed envelope into the bag. “Maybe I could get her a kitten,” Jordyn says. “That would really cheer her up.”

“I don’t think Cora’s mom and dad would feel quite the same way.” Thomas grins. “It’s a nice thought, though.”

“But what if her mom and dad say it’s okay?” Jordyn asks.

“I think the present you picked out will be just fine,” Thomas says firmly as the hospital comes into sight and they stare up at the glass-and-steel structure.

“It’s so big,” Jordyn says. “Is the whole building really just for kids?” she asks.

“That’s what I hear,” Thomas says as he pulls into the parking garage. “I guess if I was sick this wouldn’t be such a bad place to stay, huh?”

They exit the parking ramp at street level and enter through the hospital lobby. Jordyn runs ahead to the elevators and waits for her grandfather to catch up with her. Thomas takes his time. The hospital is huge and she knows he has to conserve his energy or Jordyn will have to push him out of here in a wheelchair. The elevator doors open and a woman and girl step out. The girl, about Jordyn’s age, is hairless and has a wide moon face courtesy of prednisone. Jordyn gives them a shy smile and moves aside to let them pass, her eyes lingering on their retreating backs. Together they step onto the elevator and Jordyn waits until the doors close before speaking.

“Do you think she has cancer?” she asks.

“That would be my guess,” Thomas says, leaning against the elevator wall.

“Do you think her mom gets to stay with her while she’s here? When she gets chemo?”

“It didn’t used to be that way. Parents would have to stay in guest lodging or go home when their child was in the hospital. But nowadays parents can stay right in the room with them.”

Jordyn thinks about this for a moment. “If my kid was sick I would never leave them. No matter what. Even if they told me I had to.”

Thomas knows that Jordyn is thinking about her own mom and dad. People who for some unearthly reason decided that fighting for custody of their daughter was too much effort. Not that Thomas was complaining. The farther away Jordyn’s dad and mom stayed, the better, but he knew their absence hurt Jordyn beyond words.

“What if Cora’s mom and dad are mad at me?” Jordyn asks as the elevator settles on the third floor.

“Now, why would they be mad at you?” Thomas asks lightly. “You were gone well before anything happened. They can’t fault you for that.” The doors open and Thomas slides his arm around his granddaughter’s shoulders. “Come on now, let’s go see your friend.”

No matter how cheery the wall paint or the whimsical artwork that lines the corridors, the smell of hospitals hasn’t changed much in thirty years, Thomas thinks. At least the newness of the children’s hospital overpowers the antiseptic odor that makes Thomas woozy with memories.

When they reach Room 317 Thomas knocks on the door. After a moment Mara opens the door, steps out into the hallway and gently closes the door behind her. “Hi,” she says. “It’s so nice of you to come.” She smiles but her eyes are wary. “Cora’s nervous about people seeing her this way, Jordyn. She...she doesn’t look like herself.”

Thomas places his hands on Jordyn’s shoulders. “She understands, don’t you?” Jordyn nods solemnly. “Do you want me to come in with you, Jordy?” Thomas asks, using Tess’s pet name for her.

Jordyn nods and together they move through the doorway and Thomas blinks, trying to acclimate to the dim room. A small shape comes into focus and for a moment he is transported back in time. Of course, Betsy was so much younger than Cora, but still. Seeing the heavily bandaged girl nearly swallowed up beneath a pink fleece tie blanket covered in rainbows is jarring but he smiles widely in hopes of concealing his shock. “Cora, how are you?” he asks.

“I’m okay,” comes a small, hoarse voice. “Hi, Jordyn.”

Thomas listens carefully. If there is any fear or anger in Cora’s voice, he can’t find it.

Jordyn’s eyes widen at the sight of Cora’s shaved skull and bandages. She seems to be holding her breath. Thomas gives her a quick poke. “Hi,” she finally exhales.

Silence fills the room but Thomas resists the urge to speak and just watches. Though her face is heavily swathed in gauze, Cora doesn’t appear fearful of or angry with Jordyn. It’s Mara who is looking at Jordyn with suspicion, maybe even disdain.

After Betsy died, Thomas remembers Tess talking about feeling an inexplicable hatred toward toddlers, especially little girls. She would see them at the park or in a store toddling unsteadily with arms stretching upward toward their mothers, and turn away bitterly. Of course it didn’t make sense, but nothing about losing a child makes sense. Eventually, Tess’s aversion faded but it took time.

Perhaps Mara feels this way. An irrational anger at the girl who left, the girl who escaped the attack, or maybe Mara knows more. Thomas prods Jordyn with a finger and she takes a few steps closer to her friend.

“Does it hurt?” Jordyn asks shyly.

“Yeah.” The conversation stalls. Jordyn shifts from foot to foot and Cora stares down at her bedcovers.

“Do they know who did it?” Jordyn asks bluntly.