“Her office off the kitchen.”
“Okay if I go back?”
“Sure.”
He walked behind the bar and peered through the round window before pushing through the swinging door. “Doris? Bridget told me you texted, but I couldn’t text back. I left my phone at the hospital tonight. You okay?”
There was no response, which only heightened his awareness as he walked into the kitchen.
A grizzled man stood at the grill cleaning it, while another younger man mopped a back corner of the floor near a large cooler. They barely looked at him as they worked.
He rapped the stainless-steel prep table, and the man at the grill looked up with a frown. “Where’s Doris?”
The man held up the scraper he’d been using. “She went in the office about twenty minutes ago.”
That matched up with when she’d texted him.
“I saw her head out back.” The other man leaned on his mop. He had the thin frame of someone who had been addicted to opioids but had overcome. Todd knew Doris liked to give former addicts a chance. He appreciated that about her, making it one reason, in addition to the comfort food, that he liked to frequent the joint.
“Did she come back in?”
The man shrugged his thin shoulders. “Not that I noticed.”
“Mind if I check the office?”
The guy on the grill watched him warily. “I suppose not.”
Todd edged into the small room, but she wasn’t sitting at the cluttered desk. He frowned when he noticed the bag of trash tied off on the floor. He picked it up and stepped back into the kitchen. “I thought you said she took the trash out.”
The mop guy nodded. “She did.”
“Then why leave this in the office?”
“I don’t know.”
Todd hurried to the back door. Nothing felt right about this. He needed to get out there and figure out what was going on. Why would Doris text him and then disappear? Had it been a trap to lure him here? If so, it was quite the gamble because it had taken him a while to get to the bar.
He hoped he hadn’t taken too long.
Bridget walkedDani to the elevator when Caleb called up that he was waiting at the door. “I’m sorry again about getting you involved.”
Dani gave her a quick squeeze. “I’m not. It’s a good reminder to treasure the people I have. I can pray for my other girl, and I can file the paperwork, so if she wants to find me, she can. But I need to trust that God has her in His hands.”
“I can still be sorry for getting your hopes up.”
“You didn’t. I did that all on my own. Her birthday is always challenging for me. I think Brianna will help. She’s not a replacement, but it does help fill some of the hole in my heart.” Dani blinked rapidly, then, after the door slid open, stepped into the elevator. “Take care of Eliza.”
“I will.” After the doors closed, Bridget hurried to the ICU.
The charge nurse looked up. “Good. We just got the call that she’s in recovery.”
“The surgery’s over?”
“Yes, and they’ll bring her back here once the anesthesia wears off.” She glanced at her computer. “Dr. Lyons should be here shortly to update you, but it looks like it went well based on the notes.”
Bridget’s shoulders collapsed, and she almost stumbled. “That’s great news.” She hadn’t realized how concerned she’d been about whether Eliza would make it through the surgery, but she had to lean against the wall to keep from falling.
“It is. I would guess it will be at least an hour until she’s ready to come back here.” The woman looked up and noticed her slumping. “You look exhausted. Why don’t you try to get some rest? I’ll tell Dr. Lyons where he can find you. You’ve done a lot for that girl, but if you don’t take care of yourself now, you won’t be able to fight for her in the coming days. She’s still going to need you.”
