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"There is one more treatment we're going to try," the doctor continued. "I don't want to raise your hopes unfairly, because only a small percentage of patients who can't take the other medication respond to this one. But we're going to start the first dose tomorrow. It will take another twelve hours for the inflammation to subside. Then, at least twenty-four hours and probably double that time for us to see if it’s working."

"Thank you," Cora said. Her voice sounded hollow.

She moved over to the bed, gently squeezed her mother's other hand. Her skin felt cold. There were needles and lines in her arms, and Cora had to be careful not to disturb them. The beeping of the machines filled the room. But her mom was now awake again and looking at her, and she saw a spark in her eyes that she hadn't expected to be there.

Her mom was going to fight. Cora could tell. She was going to fight as hard as she could to live, and that fire was in her eyes, even if it was muted and flickering.

"Mom, you're going to be okay; I know you are," she said. "These new meds will work. They'll get you back to health. You'll be baking cakes again," she said, giving a wry grin, and her mother's mouth twitched into a wobbly smile.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "Thanks for being here, for helping your dad."

Then another sound.

The buzzing of her phone.

Cora looked down at the screen and saw to her surprise that it was Gabe.

"You stay with Mom," she said to her dad quietly. "I've got to take this."

She turned and rushed out of the room. Mixed emotions simmered inside her as she visualized Gabe’s face in her mind. His deep voice, the rogue lock of blonde hair that softened his wide forehead, those big shoulders, the callused hands that could be surprisingly gentle for their size.

She knew she and Gabe were developing feelings, a closeness that went way beyond friendship. And at the same time, his dad was a monster. And Cora had been there, pressuring Gabe’s father when he shot himself.

Gabriel Finch had no love for his dad. He wasn't the same person that his dad had been, not at all. Cora sometimes wondered if Buddy Finch had actually been Gabe’s dad. But that aside, Cora didn't want to have to tell him, ever, what had played out in that remote mountaintop location.

Gabe had helped her with a previous case, and since then, they hadn't spoken. He'd been inundated with work. He’d been doing carpentry jobs that were becoming popular; he had been getting a great reputation and people were placing more orders than he could fulfill. Now, maybe, he'd gotten on top of it again.

"Hey Gabe," she said, picking up as soon as she was in the waiting room.

The tone of his voice shocked her. He sounded stressed. Gabe never sounded stressed. Anxiety clenched her stomach.

“Cora. I heard from my mom this morning that your mother's sick. And I just drove past the hospital and saw your car."

"Yes. I'm here with my dad," she said, her heart giving a skip that Gabe was close by, that he was looking out for her, that he cared.

"I was going to call you anyway. About something weird that happened last night, that I said I'd ask you about. Can I come in there and speak to you for a minute?"

Intrigued, Cora said, "Of course. I'll see you in the lobby."

Wondering what had happened, she left the room and rushed downstairs to meet Gabe.

CHAPTER THREE

Cora saw Gabe walk in from the street entrance just as she ran down the stairs. Her head swung around, her eyes locking onto him. And a moment later, his gaze did likewise.

He was unmistakable, in fact, unmissable. A big, broad-shouldered giant of a man, with tousled, dirty-blonde hair and warm, green eyes. Once you got past the sheer intimidation of his linebacker build, you could see his face was handsome. And despite his big, threatening appearance, he was Cora's opposite. Easygoing where she was fiery. Always the one to suggest a gentler course of action where Cora rushed in with guns blazing.

And yet, Gabe had an inner strength, and a physical power, and a savvy mind, and she had appreciated all those qualities beyond measure when he'd helped her with previous cases.

Now, there was a concerned frown on his broad, handsome face.

"What's happening with your mother?" were his first words.

But before Cora had time to answer, to her surprise, he enfolded her in his arms, holding her close. Her face pressed into his broad shoulder, his leather jacket soft against her skin.

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back, grateful for his presence, and his strength, and that he cared about her. And she cared about him, too.

Then, she stepped away, looking up at him, feeling so much better after that hug, but also feeling as if her emotions were all over the place. She'd been strong for her dad. Now, after Gabe's kindness and that hug, she felt wobbly, and as if tears were threatening.

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