Page 8 of Infinite
“Please, don’t make me stay here.”
Clara’s lips form a thin line and a tear falls on her dark brown skin. “You’re more than my patient, Ash. You’re my friend. If I let you go, it will be the wrong decision. It’s only been two nights. With a planned surgery, it’s at least five days, and there’s no way I’m budging on this.”
“So, you want me to sit here for three days, thinking about the fact that Quinn is missing and I’m now . . . this?” The tears fall as a part of my fortress crumbles.
“I don’t take any pleasure in this. You need to rest and heal. Your body has been through so much and, while the transfusions have helped, you’re still depleted.”
“This is . . .”
She moves closer, her hand touching my arm. “Impossible for you? This is incredibly difficult, but if you don’t take care of yourself, you’re going to end up in a worse condition. Quinn might need you—physically—and if you’re recovering and can’t help, then what?”
I close my eyes and release a breath through my nose. “Three days.”
“Hopefullythree days, and you have to follow my instructions.”
“And if they find him before then?”
Clara gives me a soft smile. “Then we’ll figure something out.”
* * *
She was true to her word. I stayed in that hospital for exactly three days, and now I’m at my apartment, which has turned into some sort of headquarters.
There is equipment on almost every surface, screens are set up in my living room, and people are everywhere.
My mother begged me to come to Jersey, but I refused. I need to be here. I don’t want to go to her house, eat her food, and cry. In fact, since that day with Clara, I haven’t shed a tear. My walls are high, holding as much in as they are keeping out.
“Ash, do you want to lie down?” Catherine asks as she brings in a cup of tea.
“No.”
“Okay, do you want to talk?”
“No.”
“Are you hungry?”
I turn and glare at her. Catherine has always been my best friend. While Gretchen is, of course, one as well, Cat is who I’m the closest with. Right now, I’d like her to go the hell away. She gave me one day of her not pushing me to talk. I was grateful and thought that maybe it could stay that way. I should’ve known better.
Catherine wants me to breakdown.
She insists that I need to get it out.
I threatened to break her nose if she didn’t shut up.
That lasted a whole four hours.
She sighs, shooting me that look she gives when there’s more. “Look, I know you think you’re strong and you don’t have emotions, but I know you better.”
“Good for you. Then you should know that I don’t want to express any of those feelings. I’ve buried them and that’s that.”
She places the cup on my nightstand. “You know I can wear you down.”
“You should go home, Cat. To your baby.”
A baby I’ll never have.
She shakes her head. Erin is with Jackson’s mother. She flew here as soon as she heard what happened. Nina Cole is an angel. I truly don’t think Catherine could’ve gotten a better mother-in-law. That said, I’d rather she go be with her daughter and let me focus on Quinn.
