Chapter 2 - THE HOSPITAL ROOM
The rain had become a steady curtain by the time Lena reached St. Matthew’s Hospital.
Eli sat quietly in the back seat, clutching the little plastic spoon he had used to taste the blackberry cobbler that morning.
He had not asked about Margaret again.
Lena wished he would.
His silence frightened her.
Four-year-olds were supposed to cry when they were hurt.
They were supposed to ask questions.
They were supposed to demand explanations.
Eli had done none of those things.
He simply sat there, staring out the window.
And Lena knew that meant the hurt had gone somewhere deeper.
She parked near the emergency entrance and turned around.
“Eli.”
He looked at her.
“Stay close to Mommy, okay?”
“Is Grandma sick?”
Lena hesitated.
“She is in the hospital.”
“Will she die?”
The question hit her unexpectedly.
“No one knows that.”
“Do I have to say sorry?”
Lena's heart tightened.
“No.”
“But I broke her dessert.”
“You did not break it.”
“She said she didn't want it.”
“You made something kind for her.”
Eli looked down at the spoon in his hand.
“Maybe she doesn't like me.”
Lena reached back and touched his cheek.
“Her feelings are not your fault.”
Eli nodded.
But he did not look convinced.
Inside the hospital, a nurse met them at the entrance.
“Mrs. Carter?”
“Yes.”
The nurse glanced at Eli.
“Is this your son?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Claire.”
She led them through the emergency department.
Lena's pulse increased with every step.
“Where is Margaret?”
“She’s in a private room.”
“Is she stable?”
“For the moment.”
“What happened?”
“She collapsed at the party.”
Lena stopped.
“Was it her heart?”
“We don't know yet.”
“Then what did the doctors find?”
Claire looked uncomfortable.
“Her bloodwork raised some questions.”
“What kind of questions?”
The nurse glanced at the file in her hand.
“Questions about her medical history.”
Lena felt a chill.
They reached the room.
Through the glass window, Lena saw Margaret lying in the bed.
The woman who had stood proudly beneath the patio lights now looked small.
Pale.
Weak.
An oxygen tube ran beneath her nose.
Daniel stood beside the bed.
He looked as if he had aged ten years since the phone call.
When he saw Lena, he immediately walked toward her.
“Lena.”
She stopped.
“Don't.”
He looked at Eli.
The boy immediately moved behind Lena's leg.
Daniel noticed.
Pain crossed his face.
“Eli.”
Eli said nothing.
Daniel looked back at Lena.
“How is she?”
Lena's expression hardened.
“You tell me.”
“I don't know.”
“Your mother is inside.”
“I know.”
“You were there when she collapsed.”
“I know.”
“Then what happened?”
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
“She got a call.”
“The same call you told me about?”
“Yes.”
“What did the person say?”
“I don't know.”
“Daniel.”
“I told you, I don't know!”
His voice echoed through the hallway.
Eli flinched.
Daniel immediately lowered his voice.
“I'm sorry.”
Lena stared at him.
“You need to start telling me the truth.”
“I am.”
“Then tell me why the hospital called me.”
Daniel's face changed.
“What did they say?”
“They said my name was in a sealed file connected to your mother.”
Daniel went completely still.
Lena saw it.
The fear.
The recognition.
“You know something.”
“No.”
“You do.”
“Lena, I swear—”
“You just reacted.”
Daniel looked toward the hospital room.
Then back at her.
“Not here.”
“Why?”
“Because my mother has people everywhere.”
Lena stared at him.
“You sound insane.”
“I know.”
A doctor approached them.
“Mrs. Carter?”
Lena turned.
“Yes?”
“My name is Dr. Samuel Reed.”
He glanced at Eli.
“Can we speak privately?”
“No.”
The doctor paused.
“Mrs. Carter—”
“My son stays with me.”
Dr. Reed nodded.
“Of course.”
He opened a file.
“Margaret Whitmore is stable.”
Lena exhaled.
“Good.”
“But we found something unusual.”
“What?”
“Her blood type.”
Lena frowned.
“What about it?”
“According to her medical records, Margaret Whitmore is listed as AB positive.”
“And?”
“Her blood test shows she is O negative.”
Lena stared at him.
“That can happen if medical records are wrong.”
“Yes.”
“But hers are not wrong.”
Dr. Reed looked at Daniel.
“Mr. Whitmore, your mother's blood type has been documented in multiple hospitals for more than thirty years.”
Daniel swallowed.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying someone entered incorrect information into her medical history a very long time ago.”
Lena felt uneasy.
“Why does that matter?”
The doctor closed the file.
“Because there is another discrepancy.”
“What?”
“Your mother’s emergency contact information.”
Daniel frowned.
“What about it?”
“She has listed you as her son for decades.”
“That is correct.”
Dr. Reed looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
The hallway seemed to grow silent.
Daniel stared.
“What kind of question is that?”
Dr. Reed glanced at Lena.
“Because the hospital has an old genetic compatibility record.”
Lena's heart began to pound.
“What record?”
Dr. Reed did not answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Your name appears in it.”
Lena felt the blood drain from her face.
“My name?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We don't know yet.”
“Then find out.”
Dr. Reed looked toward Margaret's room.
“That is what we are trying to do.”
A sound came from inside.
Margaret had awakened.
Her eyes were open.
And she was staring directly at Lena.
The moment their eyes met, Margaret's face changed.
Not anger.
Not disgust.
Fear.
Pure fear.
Margaret suddenly ripped the oxygen tube from her face.
“Get her out!”
Daniel turned.
“Mom!”
“Get her out of here!”
Lena stared through the glass.
Margaret pointed directly at her.
“Get that woman out!”
Eli pressed against Lena.
Lena felt something cold move through her.
Margaret had not looked at her like that at the party.
She had looked at her with contempt.
Now she looked at her as if Lena carried a weapon.
Dr. Reed entered the room.
Margaret continued shouting.
“Don't let her near me!”
Lena took a step backward.
Daniel followed her.
“Lena.”
“No.”
“Listen to me.”
“Your mother knows something.”
Daniel said nothing.
Lena turned toward him.
“What is it?”
He looked at Margaret through the glass.
Then he whispered:
“I don't know.”
Lena stared at him.
“Then find out.”
She turned to leave.
But Dr. Reed suddenly called her name.
“Mrs. Carter.”
Lena stopped.
He stood in the doorway.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“Your son should have a blood test.”
Lena's heart stopped.
“Why?”
Dr. Reed looked toward Eli.
“Because the hospital has found something in Margaret Whitmore's records that may involve him.”
Lena pulled Eli closer.
“What are you saying?”
May you like
The doctor lowered his voice.
“I’m saying we need to know who his biological grandparents are.”
