Page 109 of The Glittering Edge

It was less than thirty seconds. They had portable batteries, and they got her equipment up and running again as fast as they could. Anita’s heart monitor showed there was still life in her, somehow. And the hospital’s power came back five minutes later. But it was a close call, Dr. Nussbaum said. A fluke.

Ron keeps asking Dr. Nussbaum questions, but Penny doesn’t bother, because this has nothing to do with the hospital staff.

It always looks like an accident.

Penny leans her head on the guardrail of Anita’s bed, clutching her mom’s cool hand with her own. Ron stands behind Penny, one hand on her shoulder and the other brushing Anita’s hair back from her face and adjusting her blankets. Mrs. Salazar appears next to Penny with Naomi’s nine-year-old twin sisters, Regina and Vicki.

“Penny, we brought tea,” says Regina, holding out a steaming cup so quickly that a little hot water falls over the side.

“Be careful!” Vicki says, scowling in a way that makes her look exactly like Naomi.

“It was an accident!”

Penny smiles and takes the cup. “You two are the best. Thank you.”

“Here, Mr. Ron,” Vicki says, holding another cup out to him.

“Thank you, but I’m all right, sweetheart,” Ron says, his smile not reaching his eyes.

Penny taps Vicki on the shoulder and motions for her to come closer. “How about you give that tea to my friend Alonso?” she whispers in her ear.

Vicki blushes and looks toward the window, where Alonso is perched on the sill, fiddling with the bandages wrapped around his knuckles.

“It’s okay,” Penny says. “He’s very nice.”

“He doesn’t look nice,” Vicki says.

Mrs. Salazar gasps. “Victoria María Salazar Menendez, we don’t talk like that about people.”

Now Alonso is paying attention. He nods at the cup of tea. “That for me?”

Vicki gasps. Penny gives her shoulder an encouraging squeeze, and she slowly walks over to him, staring at the floor as she holds out the cup.

Alonso takes it. “Green tea is my favorite. Thanks, kid.” He ruffles her hair. Vicki runs back to her mother, trying to hide her smile.

The door creaks open, and Naomi appears. “I’m back. And I brought more visitors.”

The note of confusion in Naomi’s voice makes Penny lift her head. Naomi stands back, letting Helen Barrion walk in first.

Corey’s aunt is skeletal. Her hair is a mess, and the circles under her eyes are pronounced. She’s shaking so badly, it’s a shock she’s still standing.

“Helen?” Ron says. “What are you doing here?”

Helen tries to answer, but the words cut off with a sob. She takes a hesitant step toward them, her eyes focused on Anita’s face.

“They became friends recently,” Penny whispers to Ron.

“Oh,” Ron says, his shoulders relaxing. “I didn’t realize.”

“Here,” Penny says, standing aside so Helen can take her seat.

“Thank you,” Corey’s aunt says, a few tears rolling silently down her face as she sits. Then she notices Alonso, and her gaze darkens.

“Alonso, can I talk to you for a second?” Penny says quickly.

He follows her to a vacant room next door, where he gravitates immediately to the window again. Penny stands across the room, watching him. “How was Dylan?” she asks.

“She’s fine, just wasted,” Alonso says. “I drove her home, and she was asleep the whole time. I don’t think she’s going to remember any of this.”

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