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“Then I’ll lose everything, the entire inheritance. It’ll be worth it to me to wait for that spark.” I look at the mask again. “I know you think it’s crazy, but mark my words, David. She’s going to be at this ball.”

CHAPTER 3

Carina

Iarrive at the hospital at exactly 8 AM, when visiting hours begin. I didn't sleep last night. My mind was too busy spinning from Alex’s offer.

What’s the catch?

He’s going to pay me $20,000 to attend some fancy party, and all I have to do is dance with one person. I have to be missing something. Is the man in the mask grotesque? Does he smell? What is wrong with him that Alex would pay me so much just to dance with him?

Grandma is sitting up in bed as I enter her hospital room. She’s struggling to get her wispy bottle-red hair under the turban she always wears on days when she gives up on fixing her hair. A bright red tuft sticks out by her ear, curling near her high cheekbone.

"Oh perfect timing, sweetheart," she says with her arms outstretched to me.

I go in for the hug, and squeeze her tight, happy to see her feeling so well.

"Be careful with that, Grandma. You don’t want to add any pressure to your wound. Did the doctor say it’s okay to wear this?" I gently shift her turban as I tuck in the rest of her hair.

"Of course it's okay, I'm fine. You worry too much, Carina. That’s not good for you. Now hurry up and get me my makeup bag." She points to the corner towards a chair underneath several lights.

"Makeup? Whatever earth are you doing? Maybe that aneurysm caused more damage than I thought." I grin at her as she rolls her eyes.

"You haven't met my new doctor yet," she says with a wink. “He’s single. I know because he’s not wearing a wedding ring."

"Now Grandma, can you please control yourself? I don’t want to get a call that you’ve sexually harassed your doctor.” I say, holding back laughter. "It's so good to see you back to normal."

Grandma's brown eyes suddenly narrow as she looks at me. I can see the wheels turning in her brain. She stops her primping and looks directly at me. It’s the look she gives me whenever she knows I’m hiding something from her.

"What happened? You're not telling me something," she says.

I briefly meet her gaze then quickly look away. I don’t want her to worry. The only thing she needs to worry about is getting better.

Grandma's warm hand closes over mine before she gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Just seeing you like that is enough to make me worry. You know the deal, it's you and me, kid. It's always been just you and me. We don't keep things from each other, especially not the things that make you worry like I see you are."

I sit on the edge of her hospital bed, my head hanging down.

“Okay, you’re right.” I sigh, not wanting to worry her, but knowing I need to tell her the truth. "I lost my job yesterday. I was hoping I could get something else quickly and then I would tell you everything. I just don't want you worrying about me or anything at home. You need to focus on getting better.”

"Aww, well that's too bad. I know you liked working there. But things happen for a reason. You never know what might pop up now. Bigger and better things! You just need to keep yourself open to it.”

“There is something. But I’m afraid it’s too good to be true.”

Before I can finish telling her about Alex’s offer, footsteps in the hallway stop near her door.

The sound of a patient’s medical folder being pulled out of the box enters the room. Grandma pushes the makeup bag into my hands, and waves for me to put it away. She quickly pinches her cheeks and settles herself against the pillow. I hold back giggles as I watch her in action.

A tall doctor with a medium build and gray hair sweeps into the room. In one hand he holds a medical chart, while the other hand is outstretched towards me.

“Why, hello there," he says as we shake hands. "You must be Carina. Your grandmother has told me a lot about you. I'm Dr. Frederick. I took over yesterday from Dr. Rittenhouse."

He walks over to my grandmother and briefly looks at her blood pressure and heart rate on the machine beside her. He nods, then writes some notes in her file.

"Lydia, you are progressing beautifully. I'm really glad to see so much progress just days after surgery. As we discussed on my rounds last night, you should be able to go home tomorrow."

“Tomorrow?” I say. “But that's too soon.”

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