Page 61 of My Heart to Find

“And he won’t just continue treating her on Dr. Singh’s plan?”

“He said he couldn’t, in good faith, do that. He’s certain that other tests are required—and I don’t think we can risk this. Cara’s been unwell enough as it is.”

They’re talking like I’m not here, like I’m not at the table too, and it makes me feel weird. Then again, I can’t really see them. Just the shapes of them, not the details.

“Sounds to me like he’s just trying to get money,” Dad grumbles. “He’s twice the price of Dr. Singh. And, look, we’ve not got a lot left now. Those last tests wiped us out.” He glances at me and then away again quickly.

“What choice do we have?” Mum says, her voice quiet, as if her volume has been turned down. Either that or she’s running out of battery. “We need to get Cara better.”

“Contact other doctors, too,” Dad says. “There must be other private doctors. We need to find reviews of them as well.” He turns toward me again. “Don’t worry, Cara. We’ll do something.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Cara

“ICAN’T BELIEVE WE’VEonly got three more days here,” I say to Damien. He’s sitting opposite me, the sun shining down on his now-tanned skin. It’s amazing how quickly he’s tanned. I haven’t. I’ve just burnt. As usual.

“It’s gone so quickly,” Damien agrees.

He turns and watches a bird a few feet away. We’re sitting on a patio area outside the hotel’s main lounge. Everyone else on the retreat is in the pool—not too far away—and their excited shrieks reach our ears. I’d been about to go in as well, following Jana who was dressed in her brand-new bikini.

Damien had stopped me though. “Uh, do you want to sit with me?” He’d asked. “I—I’m not a fan of swimming.”

I’d been wearing my swimming costume and had agreed to sit with him instead—of course I agreed!—and quickly changed back in my room into a loose T-shirt and shorts. And so we’re sitting here now, the sun beating down on us, and it feels nice.

But three more days—that’s all we have.

And I wonder what it’ll be like after the retreat, what Damien and I will...become. Because we’ll stay in touch, I’m sure. Of course we will.

I place my hands on the plastic table. It’s not too hot. Damien smiles and places his hands on there too. Then he inches his hands closer to mine.

“I like your eyes,” he says, staring at me with so much warmth and tenderness I immediately look away.

I can feel myself blushing. “Thanks.”

The tips of his fingers brush mine.

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