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Chapters (43)
  1. Title Page
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Dedication
  4. Author's Note
  5. Prologue
  6. Chapter 1
  7. Chapter 2
  8. Chapter 3
  9. Chapter 4
  10. Chapter 5
  11. Chapter 6
  12. Chapter 7
  13. Chapter 8
  14. Chapter 9
  15. Chapter 10
  16. Chapter 11
  17. Chapter 12
  18. Chapter 13
  19. Chapter 14
  20. Chapter 15
  21. Chapter 16
  22. Chapter 17
  23. Chapter 18
  24. Chapter 19
  25. Chapter 20
  26. Chapter 21
  27. Chapter 22
  28. Chapter 23
  29. Chapter 24
  30. Chapter 25
  31. Chapter 26
  32. Chapter 27
  33. Chapter 28
  34. Chapter 29
  35. Chapter 30
  36. Chapter 31
  37. Chapter 32
  38. Chapter 33
  39. Chapter 34
  40. Epilogue
  41. Acknowledgements
  42. About the Author
  43. Also from the author

“Thank you,” I add. I don’t know what I would do without her. Again.

With a dip of the head, she turns and runs toward her car.

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

Wren

Most people hate the smell of hospitals.

I don’t. It makes me feel safe. Taken care of. I’d rather smell antiseptic than nothing at all.

Martina is sitting next to me, eyes closed. Her hand is shaking in mine, which is why I’m not letting it go. I know what it’s like to wait for news, not knowing whether it’ll be good or bad. A few months before my mother went to live at the memory care facility, she was hit by a car while I was at work and she’d wandered out of the house. The driver had slowed down enough that her injuries were superficial, but the minutes I spent alone in the waiting room, wondering if she’d be okay, were some of the worst I’d ever lived. No one should go through that alone, and especially not someone as good as Martina.

My phone vibrates against my thigh, like it has been doing on and off for the past hour.

Aaron Scott-Perez: Are you sure he’s not being treated by the same doctor as last time?

Me: Yes. I just asked again. He’s being seen by a certain Dr. N’Diaye.

It was the first thing I made sure of when I got to the hospital. Martina hadn’t thought to ask about who would be treating her husband, which makes sense considering she’s not exactly in her right state of mind right now, but this is part of my job. Making sure my client is not being assessed by the doctor we are currently suing. There’s only one hospital close to Sonder Hill, so we had no choice but to come to the place where he was treated the last time, but at least the doctor he’s with now seems qualified and aware of his condition. That’s all we could hope for.

Aaron Scott-Perez: Thank you.

Martina’s gaze flits to the screen. “If something happens…” she starts.

I squeeze her hand tighter.

She inhales shallowly. “If something happens, I will ask you to call Aarón. I don’t think I could…” Her accent is thicker today. As if the stress is pulling it out.

“Don’t worry,” I say. “I’ll do whatever you need from me.” I don’t tell her I won’t need to deliver bad news because I don’t know that. Empty words of encouragement are meaningless, and I know how painful and angering they can be.

She nods repeatedly, lips tight. “He trusts you, you know.”