Page 48 of Just One More Temptation

“Family of Mrs. Clara Morganville?” A female nurse stepped into the room and glanced around.

Finally. She popped up from her seat and Noah rose, standing beside her. “That’s me.” Fallon raised a hand uselessly.

“And you’re her…?”

“Daughter,” she automatically said, knowing if she didn’t claim a familial relationship not only wouldn’t they give her information but they wouldn’t allow her to see Clara.

“Your mother is stable.”

“Oh, thank God.” For the first time since finding Clara on the floor, Fallon’s heartbeat began to slow to a normal rate. This wasn’t a repeat of the past. Clara was okay. “Can I see her?”

The other woman nodded. “Of course. But she’s asleep. You can check on her now and come back tomorrow. Follow me.”

“Was it her heart?” she asked.

“The doctor ran tests. We should have the results in a few hours.”

Noah clasped her hand. “I need to get back to the girls. You’re okay now that you have news?”

She looked at him, seeing in his taut expression that he was upset by the need to leave her.

“I’m good. Promise.” She rose to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for coming. I appreciate it so much.”

He nodded. “I’d stay but—”

“You’re needed at home. Go.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m fine.”

After saying goodbye to Noah, Fallon sat by Clara’s bedside. Her skin was pale and paper-thin but her breathing was steady and that’s all Fallon cared about for now. She stayed until the nurse returned and encouraged her to go home and return tomorrow, when hopefully Clara would be more alert.

Worried but relieved at the prognosis, Fallon agreed.

But Clara’s scare had her taking the first LIRR train to Old Brookville to visit her father. Canceling last night had been one thing but she’d seen firsthand how quickly a person’s health could turn and she wanted to see her dad in person and make sure he was okay.

She showed up without calling first and knocked on the front door.

Lizzie greeted her, her eyes wide with surprise. “Fallon! I wasn’t expecting you today.”

Stepping into the house, Fallon pulled the woman into a hug she desperately needed, inhaling her familiar scent that said family to Fallon. Once they’d moved into this home after her mom died, Lizzie had become like a second mother to her and Brooklyn like a sister. She’d listened to Fallon’s teenage angst and dried her tears.

“I’m sorry I canceled last night,” Fallon said, feeling suddenly emotional. A lump rose to her throat and stayed there.

“Honey, you’re allowed. What’s going on?” Lizzie ushered her inside and took her jacket, hanging it in the hall closet.

“Is Dad home?”

“He’s napping in the study but come into the kitchen. Let me make you a cup of tea and we can talk until he wakes up.”

She nodded and swiped at her eyes. “Sorry. I’m all verklempt.” She laughed as she used the Yiddish word for emotional that Lizzie had taught her growing up. Lizzie and Brooklyn were Jewish and she’d learned many fun words with Brooke’s mom around.

“I see that and I want to know why.”

Once in the kitchen, Fallon sat on a barstool and let Lizzie bustle around the large room with state-of-the-art stainless appliances and granite countertops. Her father had said the kitchen was old and needed a remodel but Fallon suspected he was giving Lizzie a place to make her own inside the main house. No doubt her father wanted Lizzie to give up the guesthouse and move in but nobody had mentioned it out loud. Yet.

Lizzie made two cups of tea and placed their vanilla chamomile drink on the counter, followed by milk and sugar, knowing Fallon liked her drink sweet. Though tea was a trigger, with Lizzie she found it soothing, as having Lizzie around lessened the pain of her mother’s passing in some small way. “So. What has you so worked up?” Lizzie asked.

Fallon drew a deep breath and explained what had happened with Clara this morning. “Seeing her lying on the floor, I thought she was dead. And while I waited to hear something in the hospital, I had all these memories of the night Mom died. It was awful.”

“Oh, honey.” Lizzie placed a hand over Fallon’s briefly. “But she’s okay? Your boss?”

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