Jennifer picked up her glass and played with the rim. "True. Most of the bet was decided before they found the girl he had to date. When you walked in, you became the girl. I tried to warn you."
Footsteps echoed in the hall. Belle's heart beat fast. Then a masseuse dressed in white came in. Belle silently prayed she was Katarina. Then the woman nodded at Jennifer and then her.
"Ms. Jordan, it's time for your appointment."
Belle bounced to her feet. It was time to go. This was too much.
She didn't say goodbye, but then Jennifer called out, "Oh have fun. Katarina is a miracle worker."
In the hallway, away from the waiting room, Belle kept her voice low as she followed the masseuse. "Katarina, is there a way you can work out the kinks caused from talking to Jennifer?"
The woman nodded her head. "Oh yes, absolutely, miss. I have experience. Don't let whatever she said get in your brain. Relax."
Easier said than done. The bet sounded worse and worse. It explained his interest. She knew she should have asked for details, but his mother had returned from the dead. She rubbed her temples as she lay on the table. She tried to close her eyes.
"That's just it. Everything she just said might be true."
Chapter Twenty Two
Peter rushed through the hospital doors and went right to the business office. His mother would never worry about anything financial. He'd take care of this. No one in his family would ever be turned into a pauper or have to ask for anything from anyone.
He signed all the business papers, and then had no more excuse to avoid his mother's room. His sister and brother would likely be in the hospital somewhere, or in the vicinity.
His feet dragged as he made his way to the elevator. He pressed the button with all the enthusiasm he could muster as a little girl then said, "Did your mom just go to heaven too?"
He shook his head. His face must look terrible. He knelt down as he glanced around the empty hospital hall near the elevator. This little girl was all by herself.
He swallowed and stared into her pretty brown eyes. "Is that what happened to yours?"
Her eyes misted as she hugged a small, ripped teddy bear. "Yeah."
She should have someone with her. The day his mother left was the worst day of his life. He glanced at the white walls and lack of security guards. Had the hospital let the girl wander alone without her mother?
He stayed at her eye level. "Is someone coming here for you?"
She waved to a closed office door without moving much. "My grandma and grandpa are with a priest inside there."
This was just for a minute. At least someone was here for her. He let the elevator go as it beeped behind him. There would be another in a moment.
"What's your name?"
She hugged her bear again. "Caroline."
"Caroline."
She clearly loved her mother. If he had a child, he'd want him or her to have the best at everything. His money had paid for Harvard, and if he paid for this girl, it would be written off as a charity exception to his taxes.
He took out his wallet and stared at the door. The grandparents must be upset. He wrote a personal note on the back of his card saying that he'd pay for college for their granddaughter.
"Here is my business card. I want you to keep this and give it to your grandma and grandpa. Tell them, when they are ready, to call me about your college tuition for Harvard or anywhere else. It is what your mom would have wanted for you."
She smiled at him while she studied the card. She bit her bottom lip for a moment and then nodded. "Okay. Thank you P...e...t...er. Peter. Your name is Peter."
A genuine smile of his own grew as he nodded. "She taught you to read."
She rolled her eyes like she was a teenager. "Of course. I'm five."
His eyes widened. "You’re five?"
She giggled and wrapped her arms around him. "Yes."
The door opened and her grandparents and a man in black all came out of the room. The grandmother was clearly crying.
Peter stood and nodded at the girl. "I might need to hire you to work for me one day. I like smart people in my office. Don't forget to give my card to your grandparents."
"Bye."
She ran to her grandparents and handed them his card. The elevator doors opened and people walked out. He stepped inside without another word.
He pressed the button, and the doors closed. In the elevator, he pressed his head on the wall. At least the girl knew what happened to her mother. His own life spun out of lies. Belle's words haunted him to simply 'be polite' as he stepped off the elevator.
The moment the doors opened, his gaze locked on his brother down the hall. Peter straightened his shoulders and walked out. John saw him and waved. Peter's face felt heated. He didn't know what to say or why he was here. He swallowed and joined his brother.
John pressed his hand on his back. "Glad you're here. We thought you weren't coming."
Peter stared into the room, but there was a curtain pulled. He widened his stance and wished he had bought flowers to hold. Instead he stood there and felt awkward.
"I was on my yacht."
John's face lightened. "With Belle?"
Peter placed his hands in his pockets and steadied his feet. "Yes, with Belle."
John turned his head and stared down the hall toward the elevator banks. "Why is she not here?"
His family would like Belle. She was real, and the Morgans all seemed to gravitate toward people that had a clear direction. Until he had met Belle he hadn't thought that important. His face felt hot now.
"I brought her to her hotel. Is Mom inside?"
"Some Doctor Luke hasn't wanted to leave Mom's side, but he finally left." John waved his hands like he might stop him. "Vicki is speaking to her privately. Give them a few minutes."
Peter's stance widened. John and he didn't look at each other. They both stared at the door. "Your new girlfriend went to bat for you today."
“She was trying to protect me.” Peter remembered how she confronted his family. No one had ever done that for him ever. His father had pretty much run his entire life until he died, and Mitch Morgan would have never chosen Belle.
Peter swallowed and tugged on his collar. "She's nice."
John rolled back and forth on his feet without moving them. "That's pretty rare for you."
Peter turned to stare at his brother. If his family didn't approve, it was their own problem, not his. "You told me to date her."
John nodded. "We were only looking out for you. Not everyone only sees dollar signs, and Belle seemed real."
So they did approve. Peter unclenched his hands that he didn't know he'd fisted. He stared at the door.
"You and Alice have good taste."
John snapped his fingers. "So things are going well then?"
Peter tensed. They were now too interested. He would bury himself with something to do, but he stayed absolutely still. He'd see his mother.
"Yeah."
John turned to block the door and stare right at him. "Look, I didn't mean to fight with you. You're my brother."
Peter tried to relax his shoulders. John was only trying to do what he thought was best. Peter pressed his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Don't worry about it."