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Drew sat up straight. “Do you know about the lawsuit?”
She shook her head. “No, but he’s the only person at the hospital who would warrant such a cover-up.”
“We don’t know if the administration was covering up for Coleman,” Drew said. “It may have just slipped their minds.”
She let out a derisive snort. “Really, Drew?”
“Okay, yeah, they definitely held this from us. It was stupid on the administration’s part. They had to have known this would eventually come out.”
“My guess is they were hoping the hospital would get sold before anyone had to own up to it,” London said. “I wouldn’t put anything past them.”
Drew was quiet for a moment before continuing. “The fact is, this lawsuit is going to take a large chunk of the budget Trident has prepared for County. Several of our recommendations will have to be scrapped.” His heart as heavy as a ship anchor, Drew finally said the words he dreaded saying. “Your sensory room will likely be one of those things, London. I’m sorry.”
Drew braced himself for a profanity-laced tirade where she called Frederick Coleman everything but a child of God, but there was none of that. She was calm.Toocalm. Almost…apathetic.
She flattened her palms on her thighs and nodded. “I understand.”
“You do?”
“I knew this was always a possibility.” Her small, sad smile crushed him. “I’ve been conditioned not to get my hopes up from a very young age, Drew. I told you about life with Kenneth.” She shrugged. “I’m used to it.”
The realization sliced through Drew like a samurai sword. She had been expecting to be let down all along, exactly as her father had disappointed her so many times before.
“London, you have to know that this is the last thing anyone on our team expected to happen, especially me. If I’d known—”
“Drew, it’s okay,” she said.
“No, it isn’t. You worked hard for that sensory room. With all the research you put into it, you deserve to see it come to fruition.”
“And maybe I will one day.” She hunched her shoulders. “Just not today.”
The lack of emotion in her voice destroyed him. He knew how passionate she was about this project. So why did it feel as if this was hurting him more than it hurt her?
Because she never thought he’d follow through on his promise. She’d anticipated his failing her.
There was a knock at the door, followed by Samantha’s voice. “Drew?”
“Come in,” Drew called.
“Your phone has been ringing constantly for the past ten minutes. I checked the caller ID. It’s B. J.”
“Shit,” Drew whispered. If his partner was repeatedly calling without leaving a message, it had to be bad.
“Go,” London said, pushing herself up from the bed. “I need to do the same. It’s been a very long day.”
“London.” Drew grabbed her hand, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say to her.
“It’s okay,” she said.
It wasn’t okay. He wanted to fix this for her. He needed to.
His phone started to ring. It was B. J. again.
“I’ll see you later,” London said.
And then she was gone.
37
