Page 111 of Right in Front of You

MOLLY

It had beentwo weeks since Ron Fowler’s bone marrow had been transplanted into Sarah, who was showing signs of recovery. For the bastard that Ron Fowler was, at least he’d had an organ donor card, and given that Sarah was his niece, she was the first recipient of his bone marrow. He was still at the hospital, in a coma. Unfortunately, he survived the gun shot and the transplant. They weren’t sure when he’d wake up. If it were up to me, the timeframe would be never, and if he did wake up, he’d be sent straight to prison. But for now, a coma was good enough for me.

I set my maid of honor’s bouquet on the clinic counter. Mrs. Gladstone had called in this morning that she wasn’t feeling well and asked me to stop by so she could see me before the wedding.

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Gladstone. I don’t mean to seem like I’m in a hurry, but it’s Jo and Nick’s wedding today, and—”

Given that I had a couple of hours before the ceremony, I shouldn’t have been nervous, but today felt off. Way different than I should have felt.

“It’s all right, dear. I’m not the one in need of help today, but this little gentleman is. Come on out.”

My little brother, Nathan, stepped out from within one of the patient rooms all dressed in his nice suit, ready for today’s wedding. I’d just noticed that he must have gone through a growth spurt last summer because he looked way taller and his shoulders were broader. What was he doing here? It was too early for him to be all made up already. He’d dirty his pants and shirt in the first hour.

He stepped forward and held out his hand in which he was holding an envelope. I looked at him questioningly, but took the white card and ripped it open. As soon as I unfolded the paper, pink sparkles spilled to the floor, and I wondered how much say Mackenzie had had on this.

I read the inscription: Meet me at my house. Love, Carter.

Did he mean our apartment back in the city? But today was Jo and Nick’s wedding day. I looked back down at the card, reading, P.S. Follow Nathan.

“I’m supposed to follow you?” I asked.

Nathan nodded, grinning.

“Mrs. Gladstone?” I turned toward the older lady.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the office and any phone calls.”

It wasn’t the first time she’d helped Doctor Burke out. And she could call me if there was an emergency. Given the stabbing, I had to step in for the Doctor at the clinic. This new time I’d get to spend with my father, my real father, was a welcome one.

“All right. Let’s go, then.”

Curious about what Carter had planned, I followed Nathan out the door, and as we turned left, began my inquisition.

“Are we going far?”

Nathan shrugged.

“Will it take long?’

He shrugged again.

“Are we at least going to make the wedding?”

He stopped, turned to face me, pulled his fingers across his already sealed lips as if he were zipping them, then threw the imaginary key away.

“I see I won’t get much out of you.”

Three minutes later, the empty lot where Carter’s house used to be came into view. The lot had been cleared of ash and rubble for the most part, yet in the back, the remains of a brick fireplace stood intact. Carter sat in the wheelchair in front of it. He broke his ankle that day he saved me and still had a few weeks to heal.

When he saw me, he grabbed the pair of crutches that were leaning against the fireplace and came over to where the front door used to be to greet me.

“Glad you could make it,” he grinned.

“Nathan here tells me—” I turned to point to my brother, but he was already gone.

“Come on in, Molly.”

He pretended to open the door for me. I followed him as he weaved through the burnt hallways.

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