It was given to Nate, who relayed it to Rye. “They’re also asking when we’ll be there.”
“The flight will take an hour at most, once we take off, and if the weather cooperates. It may not be a straight shot. May have to go around some storms, which will add time.”
Nate promised to text the Hunts just before they took off. He disconnected and announced, “Goliad will be there to pick us up.”
“Oh, I look forward to that,” Rye said.
With the same degree of sarcasm, Nate said, “And Richard and Delores look forward to meeting you. They’ve heard so much about you.”
No sooner had he said that than his cell phone rang. “They must have forgotten something.” He checked the LED. “Oh, it’s Mrs. Griffin.”
Brynn’s startled reaction was to try to stand and go to him, but Timmy yanked her back down. “Let me talk to her, please,” Brynn said.
“I’ll handle it.” Nate answered with his name, then listened. “Yes, yes, she was there. She wanted to see Violet, of course, but didn’t want to interrupt Elsa’s performance.”
Brynn listened with a sinking heart as he explained that no sooner had Brynn arrived than she’d received word that one of their patients had an emergency. “We were summoned to return to Atlanta immediately. Dr. O’Neal regretted being unable to see Violet before we left.”
He listened, then said, “She mentioned that her phone has been malfunctioning. I’ll tell her that you tried to call. I’m sure she’ll be in touch with you as soon as she’s able. Now, I really must go, Mrs. Griffin.”
He hung up abruptly. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to volunteer anything, Brynn asked, “How did they know I was there?”
He cleared his throat. “Violet saw you through her bedroom window.”
Brynn wilted. “Was she upset that I didn’t go inside?”
Not quite meeting Brynn’s eyes, he added, “I’m sure she’ll be fine. The nurse on duty seemed quite capable.”
“She’s got the mutt to keep her company.”
Given the way Rye looked at Timmy after that remark, Brynn thought Timmy either very brave or a reckless fool.
After that, the wait began. Time, which had passed so quickly, now crawled. If not for Timmy, Brynn wouldn’t have minded the slowdown. She no longer had the GX-42, but she knew where it was. She remained only miles away from Violet. There were eight hours to go until the infusion had to be started. And Rye was with her. Those factors kept her hope alive.
But Timmy kept her plastered to his side, out of Rye’s reach, and within earshot of himself and Nate. She’d been unable to communicate privately with Rye, although, often, the way in which he looked at her was more potent than mere words. His gaze evoked memories of shared frustration, anger, and passion. Depending on the memory, her emotions dipped to the lowest ebb or soared.
She had spent less than two days with him, and yet he had generated more anguish and joy than she’d experienced with any other person in her life.
Except possibly Violet.
How could that be?
She loved Violet.
Timmy kept them confined to the small room. At one point the desk attendant had come to the door, suggesting that they would be more comfortable in the lobby. Rye had thanked him but told him that they all had an interest in the movement of the storms.
Timmy watched him walk away. “That old man should keep his curiosity to himself.”
“He’s just being hospitable,” Rye said.
“Meddlesome,” Timmy grumbled.
Rye and Brynn exchanged a look. They were afraid for the man.
Nate was too absorbed in his own dilemma to be aware of the undercurrents. He paced, keeping one eye on the clock, the other on the radar screen. He pestered Rye with questions. “Once the storms move through, we can take off right away?”
“After I file my flight plan and put the plane through preflight.”
“Why can’t you file the flight plan now? Get that out of the way.”
“Because if you don’t take off within two hours of your ETD, your IFR flight plan expires. I’d have to file another.”
“You’re saying it could be another two hours!”
Rye used the toe of his boot to indicate the radar screen. He was leaned back in a desk chair, hands stacked on top of his head, feet propped on the counter. Brynn wasn’t deceived by his seemingly relaxed posture. He was coiled to spring if necessary.
“I’m not in charge of the weather. Anytime you want to go, we’ll go. But the condition still holds. Brynn stays here.”
“No, no, Delores was very glad to know that she’ll be along.”
So she can gloat, Brynn thought.
Timmy, who was watching the radar screens, said, “We’ll wait till there’s no more red.”
That didn’t occur until almost two o’clock.
Violet
Dr. O’Neal left without coming inside!
When I saw her walking toward the house from the end of the block, I was so excited. I knew she was going to be the special surprise Daddy told me about.
But I couldn’t say anything when she got here because Elsa was singing, and it would have been rude to interrupt the song. Everybody made a big deal of Elsa when she got here. “Look, Violet, it’s Elsa!”
Don’t they know that I know Elsa isn’t real, and that this is just a lady dressed up to look like her? But she was nice and asked me questions about other stuff besides cancer. I just wish she hadn’t been singing when Dr. O’Neal got here.
There were a lot of TV people in the way, but I saw Dr. O’Neal on the sidewalk talking to Timmy.
He’s Dr. Lambert’s friend, but I don’t think Dr. Lambert likes him much, and I don’t, either. His jokes are stupid, and he didn’t fool me with his magic trick. My little brother could have done it better. I didn’t like Timmy being in my room. He stood too close to the bed and fiddled with my IV line. Nobody is supposed to touch it except nurses like Jill.
Dr. Lambert checked my chart and asked Jill some questions. Mom asked why he was here instead of Dr. O’Neal, and he said she wasn’t working the holiday weekend, but that was a fib, because she got here just after he told us that.
I don’t think she was glad to see Dr. Lambert and Timmy. While they were talking, she kept shaking her head. Dr. Lambert took something out of her coat pocket. Timmy grabbed it and didn’t give it back.
Then this other man came running up to them. He’s the same age as Dr. O’Neal, but the jacket he had on looked really old. The sun’s not out, but he had on sunglasses, too. Mostly, though, he didn’t look at anything except Dr. O’Neal.
He got mad when Timmy pushed Dr. O’Neal into the back seat of a car and got in behind her. I think the tall man wanted to sit by her, but he had to get in front with Dr. Lambert.
After Elsa left, I told Mom that Dr. O’Neal had been outside. She asked me if I was sure. I told her over and over, Yes I’m sure, and asked if she thought cancer had made me blind? She told me to watch my mouth, but she called Dr. O’Neal anyhow to tell her to come back. Dr. O’Neal didn’t answer her phone, so Mom called Dr. Lambert, and he said Dr. O’Neal had to leave on an emergency.
I started crying.
I think they gave me a special day because I’m going to die. I wish I had seen Dr. O’Neal instead of Elsa.
Chapter 35
1:57 p.m.
No more red,” Nate announced. “Not in the direction we’re going.”
Rye had been aware of that for more than half an hour. Heavy rains still threatened, and there was a low ceiling, but the hazardous elements had moved past. He’d kept the information to himself in order to delay their flight for as long as possible.
Because once they took off, any hope for Violet would be lost. Brynn knew that, and Rye felt her pain. After that call from Violet’s mother, her despondency was palpable.
He had tried to figure out a way to distract Timmy, overpower him, something. But he’d been unable to devise a plan of attack that wouldn’t result in injury or worse for Brynn. Now, time had run out.