Page 57 of The Magic of Sea Glass
“And he did the same for me when I lost my parents,” Stephanie added. “He was right there the minute I needed someone to help. He changed the oil in my car, took care of my school fees, even though he didn’t really have the money to do it, and he stopped by every few days to check on me.”
The weight of being in the hospital was hitting Lauren hard. Everything had happened so quickly out on the porch, but now that she was there, with the shiny floors, the sterile smell, the beeping of machines somewhere down the hall, and the low chatter of the staff… She hadn’t stepped foot in a hospital since Mason had been admitted after the crash. The different stages of her emotions that day flashed through her mind: panic, hope, exhaustion, and, finally, utter grief. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as she sat in the circle with everyone, and she felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath.
Just then the doors to the waiting area swung open and she forced herself to look up. A doctor walked through with purpose, his white coat swishing at his sides. “Brody Harrison?”
Brody stood. “Yes, sir.”
The doctor met him in the middle of the waiting room.
“He’s stable. And he’s awake, but a bit groggy. We’ve got him on an IV and sipping from a cup of ice chips. It was a heart attack, but he’s surprisingly resilient for his age. He’ll still need a few days with us, though, to be sure he’s okay.”
“Is he able to see people?”
“I think it would be fine, as long as you keep him calm.” The doctor consulted their little group. “Are you all with Mr. Harrison?”
They nodded to confirm the doctor’s question, while Lauren worked to get herself together. How lucky they all were that their news had been so different from hers a year ago.
“Shall we go see him?” Mary asked, getting up.
The rest of them followed, and before Lauren knew it she was walking behind the doctor down the long hallway to Joe Barnes’s hospital room. To keep her memories at bay and maintain composure, she focused on Stephanie, who was a step in front of her talking quietly with Mitchell. Lauren matched her stride and tried to remain calm and strong. Today was about supporting her new friends. She didnotwant to turn this into some kind of pity party by breaking down. Forcing herself to stay in the present, she eyed the artwork on the wall as they neared it.
“Here we are,” the doctor said, just as they stopped in front of the piece—a small row of flowers…
Lauren reached out and ran her fingers over the smooth surface of each bloom, processing what she was feeling.
“Oh, look at that. It’s a mural of polished glass, right outside Joe’s room,” Mary said from beside her, drawing her attention away from the brightly colored pieces.
“Like sea glass,” Stephanie said, her eyebrows raising.
Mary looked up at the ceiling as if she were sending a prayer of thanks to God above. “Itmustbe good luck, then.”
Lauren fiddled with her bracelet on their way inside the room. She’d barely seen the man before now, their paths not crossing entirely. Yet she was there to support him, so she wanted to take her strongest stance. She squared her shoulders and tried to clear her mind so that she could be strong for him and everyone else in the room.
Joe was sitting up slightly, oxygen tubes in his nose, a small paper cup in his hand. Stephanie and Lauren were the first to reach him. His attention went straight to Lauren’s bracelet and then up to Lauren’s face, his eyes widening.
“Grace? Where’d you get that bracelet?” he asked as he peered over at her with an astonished look.
“He might not be totally himself at the moment, but he should make a full recovery,” the doctor said.
Lauren stared at the man, surprised by his blunder.
The others had now crowded around Joe, quietly chatting with him, directing his attention elsewhere. Mary was helping him get the ice from his cup with a plastic spoon while Brody asked how he was feeling.
“He called me Grace,” she said under her breath to Stephanie. “Does he know someone named Grace?”
Stephanie frowned, shaking her head. “Not that I know of.”
“It’s just odd that he’s mistaken my name for that one in particular.”
“Why?” Stephanie asked.
“My mother’s name is Grace.”
* * *
“You didn’t have much of a birthday,” Lauren said to Brody when they got back to the inn.
“It’s okay.” He stood beside her as the two of them surveyed the back porch in the dark, the shushing of the waves and a lone stripe of moonlight on the unstill waters letting them know the ocean was still there in the void. Brody reached inside the door and clicked on the light, bright yellow beams illuminating the remains of the party.
