Page 48 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“I thought you had your operation in Newbury Port?” Harley said.
“We often came here for my mother’s checkups,” Jennifer told him. “The doctor who fixed my heart saw to my mother here and at Newbury Port when she could.”
“Where was your mother in her final moments?” Harley’s voice was soft and filled with compassion, sensing she needed to talk.
“Newbury Port,” Jennifer answered, opening the car door. “I still don’t see why we couldn’t have this testing done at Newbury Port.”
Jennifer slid out of the car and closed the door. Harley followed, and they walked into the hospital side by side.
“Andrew knows the staff here, and they want everything close to where Molly is,” Harley told her.
When they entered the hospital, the familiar scent of antiseptic hit Harley. The memories of a time long past clawed at the edges of his consciousness, threatening to resurface. They walked side by side down the well-lit corridor. The sound of their footsteps ricocheting off the sterile walls was a harsh reminder of the worst time in hislife. Passing the room where his son had once been, Harley’s gaze involuntarily shifted towards it. The door was closed, making him sigh with relief as he managed to keep the ghostly memories of the time he’d spent there with Daniel at bay. But as Harley and Jennifer pushed on, looking for Molly’s room, the whispers of his son’s voice over the beeping of machines flowed through his mind.
Sensing the shift in Harley’s demeanor, Jennifer glanced at him with concern. His shoulders were tense, and the lines on his forehead deepened.
“Are you okay?” Jennifer reached out and took his hand.
The soft warmth kept him grounded in the present as he nodded, and they rounded the corner, finding Molly’s room.
“This is the number,” Harley told her.
The blinds on the hallway window were drawn, and the door was closed. Jennifer knocked on the door, and Andrew greeted them within seconds.
“Jennifer, Harley, you made it.” A look of relief flashed through Andrew’s eyes, and Harley knew the man had to refrain from reaching out to hug Jennifer.
“You sound surprised.” Jennifer’s voice became frosty as her eyes narrowed. “Did you think I was going to change my mind?”
“Wha…” Andrew looked at her, confused. “No, that’s not what I meant at all. I’m relieved that you arrived okay. I was worried about you driving here.”
“I can assure you, I’ve driven from Plum Island to Boston many times,” Jennifer told him haughtily. “Is my brother still here?”
“Yes, he went to make a phone call and should be back any minute,” Andrew told them before stepping back. “Please, come in. Molly’s just finished having a shower.”
“We can come back,” Jennifer said. Her eyes were shuttered, and the air around her felt cold.
“No, please. Molly and Georgia are so excited to meet you. They’ve been waiting the whole day,” Andrew told them, stepping aside so they could enter. “Molly, this is Jennifer and her friend Harley.”
“Hello,” Molly’s face was pale and drawn. She had dark circles no fifteen-year-old should have around her eyes that were the same shape and color as Jennifer’s, which lit up when she saw them.
“Hello, Molly.” Jennifer’s shoulders relaxed, her voice and eyes warmed as she looked at Molly. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“We’re just sorry it’s under these circumstances,” a soft female voice said from the opposite side of Molly’s bed.
“Jennifer,” Andrew said, stepping up to the woman and putting her arm around her shoulders. “This is Georgia.”
“Hello!” Jennifer’s eyes turned to ice, and her tone clipped as she acknowledged Georgia.
“Would you like to sit?” Molly asked Jennifer and Harley, who she had to raise her head to look at. “You’re very tall.”
“So I’ve been told.” Harley grinned at the teen, his eyes seeing a pile of books on the nightstand. “I see you like to read.”
“Yes.” Molly nodded. “I love books. One day, I want to be an author.”
The word hit Harley in the heart as Daniel’s voice echoed through his mind:I’m going to be a graphic novelist and write the most awesome superhero comics.
Harley shook his thoughts away. “That’s a good career.” He looked at Jennifer, who was examining Molly like she was a foreign antibody. “Jennifer is an editor and worked at one of New York’s top publishing houses.”
“Realy?” Molly’s eyes widened as she moved her gaze to Jennifer. “That’s so cool.” She smiled. “Although if I was going to guess your career, I’d say you were a supermodel.”
