inue his rounds, leaving Averie with a qui

er eyes wide. "Hottest, kindest doctor in New York is

next door. His family moved away when we we

ffocating. "I need to see my dad," Averi

surgical ICU. To get there, they had to pass through a long, glass-enclosed walkway that connected two o

verie pulled the thin cardigan Eleanor ha

movement in the garden below c

caught in

a soft garden light, sat two figu

she shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

mere coat. He draped it carefully, tenderly, over Candida's shoulders. Then, h

acy. A gesture of care and affection that Averie h

tt didn't pull away. Instead, he rested a hand on

s perfectly clear. It was a thousand times more painful than the photo on her phone. That had been a dig

crushing pressure. It squeezed and squeezed unt

es wide and empty, as the last flicker of light inside he

e. "That son of a bitch." She started to move toward the exit

Her voice was terrifyi

ok at them for another second. Every moment w

Eleanor whispered, her

at was more painful than any scream. "I'm fine, Ell

herself forward, walking back the way they came. Each

oman, any lingering trace of love or hope she had for Jarett Sharp died. It was