Page 80 of A Line in the Sand
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “It was a really minor heart attack.Superminor.”
Dr. Reese cleared his throat.
Opal sighed. “Perhaps so minor that it was technically nonexistent.”
Molly gasped. “Oh, my gosh. Youfakeda heart attack?”
“And there we have it.” Dr. Reese swiveled his gaze toward Molly and Max. “She asked to see you two, and I wanted to make sure you heard the truth first. I’m processing her discharge paperwork right now, so she’ll be ready to go in just a few minutes.”
“Thank you.” Molly nodded. She felt wobbly on her feet from sheer relief. “Thank you so much.”
“Yes, thank you. We’ll make sure she gets back to the island safely,” Max said.
The doctor narrowed his gaze at Opal one last time. “Try to make sure this doesn’t happen again, would you?”
She smiled sweetly at him without making any promises.
The doctor shook his head and closed the curtain around her bed with an aggressive swish.
“Well, that was certainly enlightening,” Molly said, stepping closer to Opal’s bed. “Do you want to explain why you’d do something like that?”
Max’s gaze slid toward Molly. “Really? Isn’t it obvious? You and I were arguing and she wanted us to stop.”
Molly gaped at her friend, looking awfully smug and pleased with herself for someone who’d recently entered the building on a gurney. But that had been her plan all along, hadn’t it?
“Guilty as charged,” Opal said. “I have no regrets.”
“You scared us all half to death.” Molly crossed her arms. “This wasnotokay.”
Opal’s eyes twinkled. “It got the two of you back together, didn’t it?”
“Yes,” Max said.
Simultaneously, Molly blurted, “No.”
Max’s jaw visibly clenched. “Nottogethertogether. But we’re both here, aren’t we?”
“Would you two stop, or am I going to have to pretend to have another medical crisis? Go ahead and try me. I can fake a mean aneurysm.” Opal let out a mighty sigh. “You two are clearly crazy about each other. Take it from an old lady who has the benefit of hindsight on her side—you’re both acting like children. I don’t understand why you insist on arguing over something of so little importance.”
Max frowned. “With all due respect—”
Molly finished for him. “—the grant was vitally important. Without it the aquarium might have to close its doors in just a few months.”
Opal narrowed her gaze at Max. “What’s she talking about? I told you the aquarium would be just fine. Numerous times.”
“Yes, you did.” Max nodded. “And I want to believe that, too. But we need to consider the facts.”
“Iamconsidering the facts. I’m considering my bank account, which has more than enough zeros to keep the aquarium going for years. Maybe even decades.” Opal shrugged, the perfect picture of nonchalance.
A cold chill skittered through Molly. She wished she’d hung onto Max’s tuxedo jacket. “What are you talking about, Opal?”
“I’m rich, but I try not to tell anyone. I like to keep it a secret.” Opal pressed a finger to her lips.
“Mission accomplished,” Max muttered.
“You can’t donate all your money to the aquarium,” Molly said. Even if it was true, didn’t Opal need that money to live on? Where did it all come from, anyway? Opal was a retired school teacher.
“It’s a done deal. I’ve already talked to my lawyer and we’ve scheduled the wire transfer. Four million dollars will land in the aquarium’s bank account first thing tomorrow.” Opal shrugged. “I was planning on telling both of you tonight at the end of the Under the Sea Ball, but…”
