AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I expect her to get angry, to hit me, or to shout. Instead, she just stares, a strange emotion in her eyes. In that moment, it seems like time has stopped and it’s just her and me, standing still in the middle of the bustling hospital corridor.
Lana’s voice is soft. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
I pause, then murmur, “Maybe. At some point in the future, when walking away from me wouldn’t have been an option for you any longer.”
If she gets the double meaning behind my words, she doesn’t show it. “You really think walking away from you would be possible for me?”
When I don’t say anything, she shakes her head. “I can’t believe you did this. You know I didn’t want to take money from you.”
“I prefer you take it from me than Caleb,” I say stubbornly. “Besides, you’re mine. Why shouldn’t you take it from me?”
Her eyes widen at my shameless declaration, her cheeks flushing. Behind her, Glen coughs discreetly, a little awkwardly, and Lana swallows. “We’ll talk about this later.”
I take her hand, pulling her along as we begin walking. “Fine. But I’m not taking the money back.”
She shoots me a look. To my surprise, she tightens her hand around mine and murmurs, “Later.”
The hospital room isn’t large, but there are four men inside. I recognize one. Fred’s looking worse for wear, and he flinches when we enter. The three men beside him jump to their feet. “What the hell, Glen? We agreed—”
“Shut up,” Glen shouts. I’m impressed at the authority in his voice and the way they all fall silent. There’s an older man lying in bed. He’s not said a single word so far, his eyes trained on Lana, a desperate yearning in them.
“Dad…” Lana steps forward. A tear trails down the old man’s cheek as he reaches out toward her. If he had looked frail when she entered, now he looks even more delicate. He grasps her hands, pulling her down to hold her.
Lana’s frame is shaking, and I know she’s crying.
“Everybody, get out,” Glen orders. “Let them have a moment alone.”
I eye him. “I’m not leaving her alone with any of you.”
When he meets my gaze, I see his acceptance. We both know Lana has been hurt too badly, and my presence here is at her desire.
“Then I’ll stay as well.”
We stare at each before I lean against the wall, then train my eyes on Lana. She’s murmuring something to her father, who’s eagerly nodding his head.
Lana has used up all her savings to repay a part of the debt. She won’t have enough to pay for the kind of medical care her father needs. And judging from what I’ve heard from Glen, I doubt he has those kinds of finances available, either
I don’t like these people, but this is Lana’s father.
So, I wait for her to finish her conversation with her father before I say, “Can I have a word with you, Lana?”
Her father glances between us, and there’s a slight hesitation in his tone. “You haven’t introduced me to your friend, Lana.”
Lana’s eyes are dry. She’s calmer. Once glance from her has me walking over. “This is Oliver. He and I are together.”
That’s all the information she offers, and her father nods. “Nice to meet you. Do you work with my Lana?”
“Yes.”
“What do you—”
Lana cuts him off. Instead, she says, “We’re going to go talk to your doctor. I’ll come by to visit tomorrow.”
When she takes a step back, her father reaches out to grab her wrist. “W-we— You’ve forgiven me, haven’t you?”
Lana’s lips tremble, and she gives him a sad smile. “It’ll take some time for that, Dad. But I won’t abandon you if that’s what you’re thinking.”
He rubs his eyes. I see an old man, trying to mend his mistakes that have nearly cost him his child. As we exit the room, Lana walks by Fred and the others without so much as a word. There’s guilt in her brother’s face as he stares after her. I put my arms around her shoulders, pulling her into me.
