Beyond What is Given(53)

I changed into a flowy knee-length magenta skirt and a white halter top, loving the contrast against my sun-darkening skin, and found Mia in the living room, sitting opposite a smiling Will.

“It does have the best dancing in the Outer Banks,” she cajoled.

“I’ll definitely think about it.” He grinned.

“I’d be happy to show you—”

Oh, nuh-uh. Not happening. I tapped Mia on the shoulder from behind her chair. “Your brother would be happy to show Will what the ocean floor looks like. Let’s save his life and send Morgan with him, shall we?”

Mia flashed Will a killer smile. “Shame.”

He flat-out laughed, which brought Morgan in from the kitchen. “What’s so funny?”

“Look me up when you’re about four years older, will you?” he asked Mia.

“Oh, you bet,” she answered as I pulled her out of the chair.

“Or when you have a different brother,” I muttered, leading her through the house until the sunshine hit my face. “Okay, where are we headed?”

She unlocked a black Jeep Liberty and motioned to the passenger seat. I got in and buckled while she did the same. “I figured I’d give you a tour, but I need to drop some stuff off to Parker first.” She pointed to a purse in the back. “She’s volunteering today and might want to buy lunch.”

“No problem.” Parker didn’t exactly strike me as a candy striper. Where the heck did she volunteer? The Outer Banks House of Pain?

“I’m so glad you’re here!” Mia began to chatter as we headed north toward Kitty Hawk. Two run red lights and three stories later about how her boyfriend dumped her since she was leaving for UNC in the fall anyway, we pulled into the hospital parking lot. Who the hell taught this girl to drive? “Besides, Gray needs you, and I want everyone to see what you do to him.”

Well, this just got awkward. “He’s different here.”

She parked, killed the engine, and then grabbed Parker’s purse from the back. Go figure, it was black…to match her soul. She’s probably not that bad.

“Gray hasn’t been himself since it happened,” Mia answered. “The closest I’ve seen has been when he’s with you.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I stayed silent.

She patted my hand like she was older and not vice versa. “How about you come in with me? I don’t want to leave this at the desk, so I might need to hunt a minute or two to find her.”

It was better than sitting in the hot car. “Sure.”

The doors opened, and the sterile air conditioning swept over us. “Hey, Mia,” the receptionist called out with a wave. Small towns.

“Hey there, Suzie. Have you seen Parker? She forgot her purse.” She lifted it up.

“I think she’s up on the eighth floor today. Who is your friend?” She sent a curious look my direction.

Mia just about glowed. “Oh! This is Sam. Grayson brought her home from Alabama for the weekend.”

“That’s not exactly what—”

“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Mia cut me off, looping her arm around my waist and pulling me to her slight frame. “They’re adorable together.”

Suzie’s stare became instantly appraising, and she swept up and down my figure, no doubt cataloging everything about me to recall at a later time. “Well, it is lovely to meet you.”

Mia pulled me toward the elevator as I called back, “You, too!”

Mia punched the number for the eighth floor as the doors closed. “I figured we’d check out Kitty Hawk, and maybe swing by Jennette’s Pier?”

“Sounds good,” I answered, happy for the distraction.

The doors opened, and Mia continued to rattle off potential destinations as we walked down the sterile hallway. “Mary!” Mia called out to a nurse with flip-flop–patterned scrubs.

“Hi, Mia.” She smiled, obviously busy.

“Have you seen Parker? I wanted to drop off her purse.”

“I think she was with Miss Bowden.” She motioned her head a few doors down.

“Thanks!”

I followed Mia to the room and waited outside while she popped her head in…without knocking. “Mia!” I hissed. What if the patient had been naked or something?

“She’s not in there.” She pursed her lips. “Okay, you stay here with Grace, and I’ll go find her.”

My stomach plummeted. “Grace?” Bowden.

Mia nodded, already looking down the hallway for Parker. “Yeah. She’s watching One Tree Hill, so just go in and sit next to her. They had her watching cartoons for a while, but then I read this news story on this guy who was in a waking coma for like twelve years, and when he came out of it he was so pissed about them making him watch Barney. So I figured she loves One Tree Hill, right?”

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

“Oh, come on.” She pulled me through the door, where a frail blond girl sat semi-reclined on her hospital bed. “Sam, this is Grace. Grace, this is Sam. Grayson brought her home for the weekend.”

“Stop saying that,” I whispered, my eyes locked onto Grace’s vacant stare in the direction of the flat-screen.

“Please. Grace would love that Grayson has found someone. She wouldn’t want him to live his life like he has been.” Mia’s hand stroked over Grace’s cheek. “She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. She would want him to be happy.” Then she turned to me with a wide smile. “You make him happy, Sam. Therefore, Grace would love you. I’ll be right back.”