Page 74 of When You Are Mine

“Nowthatis an understatement.” Trish shifted from one Manolo Blahnik–shod foot to the other, still straightening the disheveled papers. “The shopping alone.”

“I’ve never been to New York, but I can imagine.”

Trish eyed Kerris’s bright orange vintage pea coat, wide-legged dark wash jeans, and wedge-heeled boots.

“You seem to be managing just fine. That bracelet is sick. You didn’t get that from around here, did you?”

“I actually made it myself.” Kerris couldn’t stop the proud grin taking over her face.

“It’s unique.” Trish stroked the stone at the center. “I’ve got a friend in the Fashion District who would kill for pieces like that. You have any more?”

“You really like it?”

“I think it’s über. I’m going back to New York for the holidays tomorrow. Let me take that to show my friend. I bet she’d sell your stuff in her shop in SoHo.”

“SoHo?” Kerris’s jaw dropped from shock before she slammed it shut. “But this…this isn’t even that good.”

“You telling me your other stuff is even better?”

“I think so.” Kerris slipped off the bangle, offering it to Trisha. “Take it.”

“Cool.” Trish shared a quick smile, reaching for her phone. “Let’s exchange numbers, and I can call you when I hear something back.”

Trish slipped the phone back into her purse.

“I’m leaving tonight. I almost hate to go with Mrs. Bennett the way she is.”

“Howisshe?” Kerris nodded her head toward Kristeene’s open door with a concerned frown.

“Not good. She and Walsh met with Dr. Ravenscroft this morning. There’s nothing more they can do.”

“What do you mean?” Kerris refused to believe what she was hearing, afraid to consider how it would ravage the two men she cared about the most.

“They caught this too late, and just can’t get to it fast enough. It’s aggressive and has spread to her liver, kidneys, back, lymph nodes. It’s literally eating her alive. All they can do now is help her manage the pain.”

“No.” Kerris felt the sharp sting of tears behind her eyelids. “How did Walsh take it?”

“He went to work.” Trish twisted her lips with something approaching contempt. “He’s more like his father than I thought.”

“Don’t misjudge him.” Kerris narrowed her eyes at Trish’s tone. “He went to work because he had to. If he stops, he’ll fall apart. She needs him strong, so he’ll be strong. He’s not like his father. Work doesn’t have him. Money doesn’t have him. Power doesn’t have Walsh. Walsh has Walsh.”

“Oh.” Trish raised her brows a curious inch. “You seem to know him very well.”

“He’s my husband’s best friend,” Kerris said before changing the subject. “I assume Walsh’ll be here for Christmas then.”

“Yeah, she wants to be home for Christmas, and Walsh is going to focus on her completely. He’s given me time off till the new year. They don’t know if she’ll…”

Kerris was glad Trisha allowed her words to trail off. She wasn’t ready to hear that the doctors weren’t sure Kristeene would make it to the new year.

“You think it’s okay if I go in to see her?” Kerris wasn’t sure she was prepared to see Kristeene, but knew she needed to.

“I’m sure she’d enjoy the company. Well, Walsh’ll be waiting for these papers. I better go.”

Kerris hovered at the door to Kristeene’s hospital room. She fought back a wave of panic, thinking of Iyani. Sweet Iyani who had fought so valiantly, and lost. And now it appeared that Kristeene’s surrender was, though delayed, a foregone conclusion. Death would hover over the holidays.

She pushed the door open inch by inch.

“Can I come in?”

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