Page 27 of Mistaken Intention

“She certainly seems to know who you are.”

“Her mom is my…wasmy sister.”

Orla picks up my jacket, putting it over the back of the chair and then turns it around, so I can sit.

“No, I’m fine, thanks.”

She nods her head. “I’m really sorry, Josie. I had no idea.”

“Why would you? Lexi and I don’t have the same last name. We were step-sisters.”

“I see. And the guy who was in the car with them?”

“Is his name Drew Bennett?” I hold my breath, although I already know the answer, and as she nods her head, a tear hits my cheek. “H—He’s Maisie’s father,” I whisper.

She looks over my shoulder. “Here’s Doctor Walters. He’s in charge of the case.”

I grab her arm. “Please don’t say anything about my connection with the family.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I want to help… to do what I can for Maisie and Drew, but if the doctors find out who I am, they’ll make me back off.”

She knows I’m right, and nods her head just as Doctor Walters comes over, studying the chart in his hands. He looks across at me. “I don’t know what your secret is, but if you can keep that baby from crying, you can stay as long as you like.”

I smile up at him, although God knows how. “I’ll do my best,” I say, glancing down at the chart. “What’s going on?”

He shakes his head, frowning. “It’s too soon to say. We need the results of the CT before I can be sure about anything, but Mr. Bennett hasn’t regained consciousness at all.”

“Have the families been notified?” I ask, turning to Orla.

She nods her head. “They both had emergency contacts on their phones. Lexi… I mean, Miss Doyle’s was a guy called Manuel Ortega. He’s working in Arizona at the moment, but he’s catching the next flight back.”

“And Mr. Bennett?”

“His contact was his brother, Hunter. He works locally and said he and his wife would come straight here.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat, wondering what I’m going to do. Drew’s brother is bound to want to take Maisie, andI’ll have no reason to stay after that… not officially. Of course, I could reveal my true identity, but if I do, they won’t let me be involved. My connection is with Lexi, not Drew, and I doubt they’ll even keep me informed of what’s happening with him.

I hug Maisie closer to me, her tender body tight against mine, as Doctor Walters bends his head, talking in whispers to Orla, before she nods her head and walks away.

“Excuse me?” I look up, catching my breath, when I see a tall man on the other side of the desk. He’s the image of Drew, and I know this is Hunter Bennett, even before he says his name and asks for his brother. He’s accompanied by a beautiful blonde woman, who I’m guessing is the wife Orla spoke of. She’s wearing a tight navy blue skirt and white blouse with a jacket folded over her arm, and he’s got on jeans and a white button-down shirt, their faces lined with worry as they turn to Doctor Walters.

“Would you like to come to the relatives’ room? We can talk in there.”

Hunter nods his head, putting his arm around his wife, and they step away. They’ve only gone a few paces when he stops and turns back, looking directly at me.

“I’m sorry. That’s Maisie, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

He nods. “I know it’s an imposition, but do you think you could look after her for a little longer? I—I wanna be able to focus on my brother for a while. Is that…?”

He can’t finish his sentence, his voice cracking with emotion and I smile over at him, nodding my head.

“It’s fine. Maisie will be perfectly safe with me.”

“Thank you.”

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