Chapter 5 - The Party Arrives at the Hospital
Frank and Diane did not come voluntarily.
Richard called them from the hallway.
“Get to St. Anne’s.”
Frank recognized his brother’s voice and nearly hung up.
“What are you doing there?”
“Standing beside your injured daughter.”
Silence followed.
Richard continued.
“You have twenty minutes before I tell every person at Whitney’s dinner exactly why Claire is alone.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Richard looked through the glass panel toward Claire’s bed.
“Try me.”
The engagement dinner ended abruptly.
Frank and Diane arrived with Whitney and several relatives behind them, still wearing formal clothes. The celebration followed them into the sterile hallway like perfume that no longer belonged.
Whitney looked annoyed.
“Did everyone really need to leave?”
Richard turned toward her.
“Your sister was hit by a truck.”
“I didn’t know it was serious.”
“You didn’t ask.”
Frank stepped between them.
“Enough. Claire has always known how to create a crisis.”
Nurse Tessa stopped beside the doorway.
“She has a broken arm, stitches, and rib injuries.”
Frank’s confidence flickered.
Diane entered the room and picked up Noah from the nursery bassinet when he was brought back. Her hands shook as she held him.
Claire looked at her parents.
“You came because Richard made you.”
May you like
Neither denied it.
That silence hurt more than the phone call.
