A Walk Along the Beach(66)

The decision seemed hard for her to make. “We won’t be away long, will we?”

“No,” I promised. “Only a few minutes.”

    “I’ll let Harper’s nurse know where we are so she can come for me if there’s any change.”

“Sure.”

Willa barely spoke on the elevator to the cafeteria. “I don’t like to leave her for long,” she reminded me.

“Don’t worry, I won’t order a four-course meal.”

That produced only a semblance of a smile. Willa ordered coffee and I grabbed a premade sandwich and bottled water.

We were at the table only a few minutes, and I had yet to take more than a few bites, when we were interrupted.

An orderly approached our table. “You’re Willa?”

“Yes.” Immediately she pushed back her chair and was on her feet. “What?”

“Dr. Carroll asked me to come for you.”

“I’ll be right there.” Willa didn’t wait for me but started for the elevator, her steps urgent.

I left my sandwich and hurried after her. When we got back, the physician I could only assume was Dr. Carroll stood outside Harper’s room, talking to John. Both looked troubled. He turned when he saw Willa and me.

“What is it?” Willa demanded. “What’s happened?”

The physician Willa had hung all her hope on wasn’t able to meet her eyes. His shoulders slumped and I could see the dread written all over him. My stomach pitched. Whatever it was he had to tell her couldn’t be good.

“Harper’s vomiting blood.”





CHAPTER 25





Willa


The next two days were an emotional roller coaster as we dealt with this latest development in Harper’s declining condition. I was at her bedside constantly until I was ready to drop from the emotional and physical strain. Within forty-eight hours Harper was stable and I could breathe again.

Lucas and Chantelle must have said something to Sean, because he drove to Seattle to collect me, claiming I needed a break. At first I refused to leave Harper, until my sister all but banned me from the room. Dr. Carroll and John insisted that a few days away from the hospital would do me good. Chantelle agreed to stand in for me and promised to be in touch if anything new developed with Harper. Leaving my sister for even a day was hard, but in the end, I capitulated and left with Sean.

Since Harper and I left for Seattle I hadn’t been back to Oceanside. In the time I’d been away my business had taken a dramatic turn for the worse. My thoughts were leaping from one crisis to another. Although Bean There was the biggest investment of my life, I’d left it on the back burner while I was with my sister.

    My mood was sullen as we headed back to Oceanside.

“You okay?” Sean asked, once we left the heavy Seattle traffic.

“No. I shouldn’t have left Harper.”

“Willa, you’re exhausted. You need this.”

“I need this?” I cried, both frustrated and angry. I bit down hard on my back molars to the point I feared they might crack. “What gives you the right to tell me what I need? You’ve been halfway around the world doing whatever it is you do. What right do you have to tell me anything?” It was unfair to resent him for not being around when I needed his support, but I couldn’t hold back a minute longer.

My words were met with a silence that grew as thick as a London fog.

Hanging my head, I closed my eyes and whispered, “I’m sorry…I don’t mean to take my frustration out on you.” I chanced to look at Sean. He reached over and took hold of my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. I relaxed and leaned my head against the passenger window and closed my eyes. No more than a few minutes later, I was asleep.

When we arrived in Oceanside, Sean gently shook my shoulder. “Willa.” He spoke softly, stirring me from my slumber.

Sitting upright, I blinked a couple of times. “Where are we?”

“At your apartment.”

Straightening, I wiped the sleep from my face and looked over at Sean, regretting being cross with him earlier. “I slept…almost the entire way,” I whispered, surprised at myself.

“You needed it.”

Sean got out of the car and came around to my side, opening the passenger door. I started to climb out, forgetting the seatbelt. Leaning over me, Sean released it and then offered me his hand. “Come on, Sleeping Beauty, I’ll walk you to the door.”

    I paused in front of my apartment. Ridiculous as it seemed, entering the home my sister and I had shared suddenly felt daunting. Overcome and hesitant, I asked, “Would you come inside with me?”

Sean glanced at the time. “I can’t stay long.”

“I know.” He was just back himself and had yet to catch up with his own affairs. I appreciated that he’d taken the time to come and collect me from Seattle. The crux of the matter was that I didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t want to look inside Harper’s bedroom and find her things scattered about while she was back in Seattle battling for her life.

“Stay with me,” he said, standing behind me, his hands on my shoulders.

The need in me was strong, weighty. It didn’t take me long to decide. “Yes, please. I want to.”