Page 145 of The Golden Hour

“St. Mary’s wants to settle,” Honey swallows. “But Lorraine was not happy.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

HONEY

“This,” Lorraine sneers, shoving the papers back across the table, “is not even worth the gas spent to come here today.”

“St. Mary’s believes we are being more than fair given the circumstances⁠⁠—”

“Fair,” Lorraine scoffs. “Half a million dollars for two almost-dead patients. One mother. One baby. A retired physician with a complaint history, incomplete records, and an attempted employment package designed to influence the plaintiff’s husband?”

The legal counsel for St. Mary’s looks at Lorraine, their expressions—four men, of course—almost annoyed at her for not rolling over.

Lorraine doesn’t flinch and doesn’t lower her tone.

“Frankly, that is insulting,” she snarls, turning toward Honey and Mason next to her. “Let’s go⁠⁠—”

“St. Mary’s is very adamant about settling,” one of the lawyers says loudly, holding his hands out to stop them from moving to the door. He stresses, “Today.”

“Why?” Lorraine asks, with an I know something you don’t want me to know smirk on her face. “Something happen?”

“We just want to make sure the hospital takes care of Mrs. Carpenter,” he says. “As we do all of our patients.”

“Yes, and taking care of her means offering peanuts for almost dying,” Lorraine says, placing her glasses back on her face as she reads the rest of the fine print. “As well as locking her down with an NDA, non-disparagement, liquidated damages, a release of all future claims, and a lovely little clause about returning or destroying any documents related to this matter.”

Lorraine mockingly laughs. “Hilarious, gentlemen. Truly.”

Milton Woodham, the head legal counsel for St. Mary’s, looks toward the mediator for help.

Agnes Hartford introduced herself as a retired judge. She is an older woman, reminding Honey of her own grandmother when she was alive—the type of woman who made Melissa, which speaks volumes about her personality.

And with a very Melissa look, she does not look moved by Milton’s silent request for help. She only raises an eyebrow at him because she’s there to mediate, not argue on his behalf. Unfortunately, from St. Mary’s track record, it looks like they’ve been used to that kind of treatment in the past.

“And let’s not forget that we still have not received Mrs. Carpenter’s full records, so what’s up with the? Hiding something?” Lorraine says, her voice sharp enough to cut. She holds up three fingers, “Three months we’ve been asking, and it’s been delayed every single time. So either there is something in there that you don’t want us to see⁠⁠—”

Mason and Honey share a look, knowing exactly what is on those records.

“Or, your hospital is so incompetent with mishandling the nursing strike that they can’t release the backlogs,” Lorraine asks, folding her hands on the table and leaning forward. “Please, do tell. I’m dying to know which it is.”

One of the lawyers is hissing something in Milton’s ear that makes his jaw clench, and his eyes narrow.

Lorraine then smirks, like she knows she has them by the balls.

“We are very aware that the records produced by St. Mary’s are incomplete at best and sanitized at worst. If this proceeds, we will be requesting every audit log, every addendum, every timestamp, every internal risk-management communication, and every prior complaint involving Dr. Mortimer⁠⁠—”

“And we have already told you that Dr. Mortimer is no longer affiliated with St. Mary’s⁠⁠—”

“Dr. Mortimer should have been fired after his fourth patient complaint,” Lorraine snaps, slapping her hand down on the table and making the men jump. “My client—his patient—was neglected in his care, and she and her daughter almost died because of it.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Honey sees Mason flinch at the blunt reminder. His hand twitches on his lap, curling and uncurling into the fabric of his slacks.

He looks handsome. Dressed in a dark suit that she hasn’t seen him in since… Fia’s wedding, maybe. His dark hair is combed back, and he’s freshly shaved—the aftershave she loves making its way to her nose.

Mason turns to look at her as the lawyers continue to go back and forth, speaking about Honey, about her trauma, about her being near constantly sick for nine months, about how Daisy had to be cut out of her while they tried to keep her alive…

She appreciates Lorraine’s defense. She also now understands why Lorraine cautioned them to consider a settlement if it came to that. Because the thought of having to do this over and over again, in a courtroom instead of a conference room, makes Honey sick.

Mason must see the look on her face, because he reaches towards her with a shaky hand. Palm up, letting her choose. And she does.