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“I don’t want to talk about it. Hold on to the image you have of Frida now. Knowing the truth won’t help you.”
My mother puts down her coffee cup and sits down at the table again. “Why the serious faces? What’s up?”
A hesitant smile appears on Charles’ face. “I’m just a little sad that I have to leave already. But it really is time to go. See you soon,” he promises, giving Mom a hug. Then he strides across the cafeteria to the exit.
“Everything okay?” Mom asks with an inquiring look.
“Yeah, we were just talking about Frida. It seemed to make him a little melancholy.”
She nods and glances at the exit through which he just left. “He’s very empathetic and kind. It’s been a long time since I met someone I could have such good conversations with.”
“It’s good to see you happy.” I study her face. “Are you together?”
Her eyes widen in surprise, but a slight blush in her cheeks tells me I’m not too wide of the mark. “No, no. What are you thinking?” she mutters into her coffee.
It’s amusing to see Mom embarrassed like this, and I can’t resist teasing her. “But you wouldn’t have anything against it, am I right?”
She sighs and flaps her hand playfully at me. “You’re very inquisitive. I’m the mother. I’m supposed to be the one asking questions like that!” She winks mischievously at me. “I like Charles a lot, but I can’t say where this is going. And I really don’t like to overthink it. I just want to enjoy my time with him and see where it leads.”
“That’s a good attitude,” I reply. “But I just want you to know that you don’t need to worry about me. Anyone who makes you happy is fine by me.”
She stands up and hugs me. “That’s sweet of you, honey.” She glances at the clock and steps back. “Hmm, I guess I should get back to work. It was nice to see you.”
“Yeah, you too.”
“We should do something together sometime soon. Let me know when you’re free.”
“I will,” I promise, and we say goodbye.
Wandering through the hospital corridors, my thoughts drift back to Frida again. Thanks to Charles, I now know that Mr.Brian wasn’t lying to me. My great aunt actually killed someone. I’m guessing it was an accident, but there must have been something about it that was so terrible that nobody wants to talk to me about it. Maybe I should just drop the whole thing. What if the secret room and everything in it is just an expression of Frida’s confused mental state?
I’m still weighing up what to do when I turn into a corridor and see a young man step out of a room and hurry toward the exit. He has his back to me and doesn’t see me, but I recognize him instantly. My heart beats faster and before I know it, I’m running after him.
“Noah,” I call.
When he hears my voice, he stiffens. He slowly turns around, wide-eyed. “Teresa, what are you doing here?”
It should be obvious to him that I’m here to visit my mom.
“I’m not here because of you if that’s what you’re thinking,” I joke lamely.
Noah doesn’t take the bait. He’s still staring at me as if I’m the devil incarnate, which doesn’t escape me.
“I hope you’re just here to read to someone and not to collect a patient’s dying breath.”
I don’t like saying it out loud, and I try to banish the images that pop into my head.
“No, I... I was just reading.” His eyes dart around.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
Noah glances around again. I’ve never seen him so nervous. He almost looks... afraid.
“Not here,” he says. “If we’re seen together, it’s all over.”
“Who’s going to see us?” I look around. The corridor is empty.
“Come on,” he urges, moving toward the stairwell.
