Chapter 71
“Mr. Goodwin, is someone you know unwell p>
“Yeah.” lan replied, casting a quick glance at the slender figure in the white coat cradled in Joel’s arms, then striding purposefully into the patient’s room.
Joel led Eleanor toward the last room in the hall, his arm gently around her shoulders, worry etched across his face as he glanced at her.
Eleanor looked calm on the surface, but she couldn’t help noticing how closely lan hovered around Vanessa, refusing to leave her side even for a moment.
“Are you alright?” Joel asked, concern in his voice.
“I’m fine,” Eleanor replied, shaking her head.
After getting the details on the patient’s condition, Eleanor and Joel stepped out of
the room together, talking quietly as they headed back to the lab. There, they poured over the patient’s samples, searching for whatever was causing the sudden illness.
At 4:20 that afternoon, Eleanor hurried through the school gates and spotted her daughter, Evelyn, playing with Vivian on the lawn. Xavier stood nearby, keeping a watchful, patient eye on them.
“Mr. Vaughn, I’m so sorry to trouble you again,” Eleanor apologized as she approached.
“It’s no trouble at all,” Xavier replied with an easy smile.
“Mom!” Evelyn squealed, racing over to her. Eleanor scooped her up, catching a glimpse of Vivian’s longing gaze.
Eleanor’s heart ached for the girl. She didn’t know exactly what had happened to Vivian’s mother, only that Vivian was now living with her uncle. She must miss her mother terribly.
“Vivian, would you like to come over for dinner tonight?” Eleanor invited her gently.
Vivian’s eyes lit up. “Really? I’d love to p>
Xavier looked mildly surprised, but smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Mrs. Goodwin. That’s very kind p>
“It’s no trouble at all. You can pick her up around eight-thirty,” Eleanor said.
Eleanor took her daughter and Vivian home. Later, she sat on the porch sofa while the girls and Princess-their golden retriever-chased each other across the lawn. She picked up her phone and snapped a picture to capture the moment.
The two girls had quickly become inseparable, and Vivian seemed to love being around Eleanor, who noticed the way Vivian looked at her as if basking in a mother’s warmth.
At eight-thirty sharp, Xavier arrived to pick up Vivian, bringing a small gift for Evelyn. Both girls were delighted as they said their goodbyes.
That night, after tucking Evelyn into bed, Eleanor headed upstairs to catch up on paperwork and research. There was something unusual about the case Joel had received this time.
Around eleven, her phone buzzed. It was a message from lan: “I’m not coming home tonight. Make sure Evelyn goes to bed early p>
Eleanor didn’t reply.
She was preparing for a storm.
The next morning, after dropping Evelyn off at school, Eleanor returned to the lab.
Joel was already there, working on a new set of cultures.
Joel glanced over his shoulder, catching Eleanor gazing at him absently. He grinned, “What’s on your mind p>
Eleanor walked over, smiling. “Nothing. Any new findings p>
“Still running tests,” Joel said, rubbing his chin. “It’s tricky, but we’ll get to the bottom of it. Oh, and I need to stop by the hospital later to collect a fresh blood sample from the patient p>
“Can’t the hospital send it over p>
“I really should see the patient myself. But if it’s inconvenient for you—” Joel
hesitated, knowing lan was still there with Vanessa.
Eleanor shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ll come with you p>
This time, she didn’t run into lan, but Vanessa’s name was still on the patient monitor, indicating she hadn’t been discharged yet.
After they’d finished checking on the patient, Joel paused at the door. “I’m going to step inside for a minute p>
Eleanor blinked in surprise as Joel pushed open Vanessa’s door. Inside, lan sat on the sofa, while Vanessa lay on the bed, looking pale with her long hair splayed across the pillow. On the side table, a fresh bouquet of roses stood next to an assortment of fruit baskets and get-well gifts.
“Dr. Kingsley?” lan looked up, clearly surprised to see him.