“I’m afraid not. The brain never sleeps.”
“Are you telling me that Mira is brain dead?”
“Also, Mira had no responses to any of the reflex tests.”
The halls started to close in on Clint.
“There have been cases where a coma patient rallies, but that’s not the norm. When she was brought in, she not only had an aneurysm, but her body was in shock from trauma and hypothermia. There was a lot for a forty-pound child to contend with.”
Levitt’s words ripped through Clint’s chest. “Listen to me.” He took a stance. “Mira is not going to die and she’s not brain dead. And no one, including you, is going to tell me differently.”
“I know this is difficult,” Levitt said. “As a parent, I can’t possibly fathom what you are going through.”
The panic attack Clint felt coming on turned to fury.
“I felt I should prepare you. If nothing changes, you and your wife will have to make a decision. You will need to decide whether to let Mira go or….”
Clint turned his back on Levitt and marched back into the hospital room.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHARLIE WAITED IN LINE at the Mercy Medical information desk, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. When it was her turn, Charlie asked, “Could you tell me where your cafeteria is?”
After the receptionist told her it was downstairs, and then gave her a map of the hospital, Charlie walked her parents to the elevator. “I want you to go to the lower level cafeteria and I’ll find you later.”
“Can’t we see Mira?” her mother asked, her tired voice strained.
“Of course you can, Mom. I just need to do something first.” Charlie hugged her. “I’ll come down and get you soon, okay?”
When the elevator doors closed, Charlie went back to the receptionist who told her what floor surgery was on. In spite of the fact she was anxious to see Mira, Charlie was on a mission.
Inside the family waiting room, Charlie asked the volunteer if she knew if Dr. Levitt was in surgery.
“Yes, he’s on duty today and was just here a few minutes ago,” the volunteer responded. “He’ll be back, however, as he has a family waiting.”
“Oh gosh, I hope I don’t miss him. He’s tall, right?” Charlie asked, fishing for information.
“No, he’s not that tall. Average, I’d say. Dark hair.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Charlie said. “There are so many doctors helping my father that I get confused.”
In the hallway, Charlie stood by the door impatiently. She’d already stopped two doctors asking if they were Levitt and was almost ready to leave when Charlie spotted another physician coming toward her. “Dr. Levitt?” she asked, holding her breath.
“Yes.” He stared at Charlie questioningly. “Can I help you?”
“Do you have a few seconds?”
“I’m sorry, have we met?”
“I’m Mira Abbott’s mother. Charlie. Charlie Abbott.”
“Oh, yes.” He glanced at the sling. “How’s the shoulder?”
“Better, thank you. I wanted to ask you how my Mira’s doing.”
Levitt pushed the scrub cap back off his forehead. “Have you been to see her yet?”
Charlie shook her head. “No, I just got here and wanted to talk to you first.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “I spoke with your husband earlier and he will be able to update you.”
Charlie’s only focus was on what she wanted to know. “Clint told me that the aneurysm was around”—she placed her hand over the left side of the head—“here.”
Levitt nodded. “Yes.” He nodded. “I received the lab results this morning.” Levitt crossed his arms over his chest, a faraway look in his eyes. “It’s strange. Like I told Mira’s father, I’ve never seen anything like this, or even heard of it happening.”
Charlie listened.
“The results came back that the cells were part of the hippocampus.”
Charlie’s stomach tightened. “If I recall, isn’t that where memory is stored?” She knew perfectly well the function of the hippocampus as she’d read about it at the house before she’d left for Kansas City.
Levitt nodded. “It’s complicated, but yes, this is where memories begin. The tissue I took out was pressing against a major artery which caused the aneurysm. It could have been there and growing for years, maybe as far back as birth.”
Her suspicious were right. “Organ? But I thought it was a tumor?” Charlie asked.
“Yes and no.” Levitt scratched his temple. “The fact that it grew and caused an aneurysm suggests it was a growing tumor. But”—he held up a finger—“what I removed was a fully functioning hippocampus.”
“So Mira had two hipp…” she didn’t know how to say the word.
He scratched his head, pausing as if he didn’t want to go into detail about something he’d never seen before. “The lab is going to do more tests, but it’s what the results are suggesting.”
This is what Winston was trying to tell her. Somehow he’d figured out how Mira and Faith had been connected.
“Can you tell me where Mira is?”
“She’s still in ICU, but…”
“But?”
The physician nodded toward the waiting room. ‘I’ll be able to talk to you later, but right now I have a family waiting to hear from me.” He opened the door to the waiting room. ‘I’ll stop in later today to check Mira.”
He was probably going to tell her that they would be transferring Mira to another ward. In the elevator, she took out the hospital map and located the ICU.
As Charlie walked what seemed like miles, taking long hallways and several turns, she thought about the report she’d read about the twins separation. As difficult as it was to believe, the part of Faith’s brain that stored memory lived on after Faith died.
Every memory and every moment of Mira’s life had been shared with Faith.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
WHEN SHANNON HEARD FOOTSTEPS, she pushed down the covers off of her and slammed her feet on the floor.
“What the hell?” Confused as to where she was, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. The sun was coming through the slats in the blinds and, when she looked around, she remembered she was in the nut house.
Someone knocked quietly. When the door opened a young women with huge green eyes framed in long, dark lashes tiptoed into her room.
“Good morning, Shannon, My name is Tia and I’ll be your partner today.”
“Partner?” Shannon smirked. “Sounds like we’re a couple.”
“Well, not that kind of a partner.” She walked closer to the bed. “Every day you’ll be with someone who will be like, your assistant.” She put a dainty hand over the small gold cross hanging on a chain around her neck. “Like a partner.”
Shannon rolled her eyes. “How lovely.” She hated this Tia chick already. She was one of those women like Charlie Abbott who’d been born beautiful and had her pick of men. Her teensy-weensy body wouldn’t satisfy a cocker spaniel’s hunger.
“Don’t need assistance, but thanks.” Shannon pushed up off the bed and yawned. “Sure the hell hope there’s some chow waiting for me. I could eat a house.”
After Tia escorted her to the community bathroom, Shannon almost barfed when she saw the open showers. Other women’s bodies made her sick to look at, but she’d have to endure this crap. It was the price she had to pay for freedom.
After Shannon took a quick shower, the young woman tried to help Shannon dress in gray sweatpants, and a zip-up sweatshirt, but Shannon threw a fit.
“Get the hell away from me, you queer!” She pushed Tia away. “Pervert.”
Tia didn’t bat an eye as if she’d been through this a million times. “No problem. Just let me know if you need help.”
“Well, I don’t, Missy.” God, Shannon had to stop this behavior right now. Just the sight of Tia brought back memories of Cheerleader Charlie, but she had to shut the hell up or no one wo
uld believe she was a victim of mental illness.
“I’m sorry, Tia,” Shannon apologized when they walked to the dining hall. “I guess I’m a little grumpy.”
“No problem.” Tia smiled her perfect smile, making Shannon see red. “We all get a little grumpy from time to time.” Tia stopped in a wide opening and nodded. “Here we are.”
Shannon looked across the room at the curved floor-to-ceiling wall of windows. No houses; no cars; nothing but earth and sky. “The crazies” filled a dozen or so round tables covered with white linen tablecloths. Thank the Lord that the atmosphere was calmer and quieter than she’d expected.
Tia led her to a long serving table that displayed everything from biscuits, scrambled eggs, pancakes to sausage, and bacon. After Shannon went through the food line, Tia led the way to a table. Shannon gobbled the delicious meal quickly and went back for seconds.
After she set her plastic utensils down on the paper plate, she let out a loud, meaty belch as she checked out at her fellow diners.
Deadpan eyes and expressionless faces stared into space and she realized the gig here was going to be tough. Briefly, she felt a bit of remorse for what she’d done, but her intention was not to shoot anyone, but hold Clint responsible for his actions. If that stupid Charlie would have just stayed put in her damn chair, Shannon wouldn’t be in a pickle right now.
“Would you like me to show you around?” Shannon heard and looked up. “My name is Bea.” God, this woman looked ancient. The creases in her cheeks and forehead looked more like craters than wrinkles. Maybe she’d been a patient at one time.
“I’d like that.” Shannon dabbed at her mouth with a starched white cloth napkin.
After the elevator ride to the first floor, Bea explained each room she took Shannon through like a professional tour guide.
“This is where the staff meets every Monday morning,” Bea said when she opened a door and waved a hand for Shannon to step inside. “We discuss every single guest here so that we can make their days brighter and the nights calmer.”
Guest?
The next room Bea showed her was decorated in overstuffed chairs, cushy couches, with a roaring fire in the boulder rock fireplace.
“This is where the staff comes on their breaks,” Bea told her. “Just to relax, read, or have a cup of tea.”
Tea? There had to be a bottle of wine hiding around here somewhere. The thought made her salivate.
“We have dances in here,” Bea told Shannon when they reached what she called the gathering room. “Sometimes musicians come in and entertain us.”
Shannon went to sliding glass doors that overlooked a terrace that stepped down to an enormous in-ground pool that was covered for the winter months.
Standing beside her, Bea said, “The pool will open in June, and of course, we’ll take advantage of the weather and the view by dining on the patio.”
This place would make most people feign being mentally ill.
Bea glanced at her watch. “You’re scheduled to see your counselor in a few minutes, so we’d better get you back upstairs.”
“You mean my psychiatrist?” Shannon asked.
“Technically yes, but we refer to our doctors as counselors or team leaders.”
Team leaders and partners, wow, what a delightful pre-school for those who’d been cast out of society.
Shannon was escorted back to the community room, and was told someone would be here soon to take her to her appointment. Attendants meandered around the room, making sure everyone was content. A couple of patients played checkers, a few watched television as a tall thin middle-aged woman danced in circles in the middle of the room. Most, however, sat in chairs staring at nothing, their eyes glazed over like they’d had too many cocktails.
She shuffled to an empty chair and sat down, wondering what the gossip was in Sheffield. Some would say poor Shannon Patterson had lost her mind, but she was smarter than everyone thought.
When she felt a hand on her shoulder, she looked up into a young man’s face. His cheeks were as pink as a baby’s bottom, and his eyes a youthful, clear blue.
“Come along now, Shannon,” he told her. “Time to meet with your team leader.”
She held back her laughter at the team leader thing. “Okay.” She slowly stood up. Complacent. Polite. Humble. She had this role by the balls.
As soon as she got outta here, she’d apply for disability. Now there was a paper trail of insanity. It would take a while to suck money of the government, but what Shannon had most of was time.
Stepping out onto the third floor, the elegant surroundings continued. Hell, the artwork in this joint had to be worth millions. God was looking over her when He’d led Shannon here. She needed to think of this as an adventure, not a sentence.
When the attendant knocked on one of the doors, he was greeted with a friendly, “Come on in.”
She was a bit apprehensive, but when a distinguished-looking gentleman came out from behind a large antique desk, Shannon felt like her eyes were going to pop out.
“You must be Shannon.”
His voice was calm, melodic. Casually dressed in a gray sweater that was a shade darker than his thick wavy hair, the middle-aged man had the physique of a twenty-five-year-old. Hunkabunka.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” He held out his hand to shake. “I’m Tony Hedron."
When she put her hand in his and covered it with his other hand Shannon felt a shiver go down her spine. She giggled and smoothed down her hair. There was no doubt that he was attracted to her. Briefly, she glanced at his left hand. No wedding ring.
“Thank you, Luke,” he said to Shannon’s escort. “We’ll be an hour or so.”
After the door closed, he turned to Shannon. Hedron’s piercing dark eyes seemed to look deep inside her soul, leaving her tongue-tied.
“Coffee?” he asked after Shannon sat down on a smooth, chocolate leather couch. “Tea, maybe?”
She put a hand over her stomach. “Oh, gosh no, Mr. Hedron. I’m full as a tick.” She felt giddy like everything inside tickled.
“Call me Tony.” He moseyed back to his desk, picked up his coffee mug, and settled into a chair next to the couch. “Tell me a bit about yourself. I’d love to hear about you.”
Her heart did a flip-flop. No one had ever asked Shannon about herself. Ever. Mister Tony Hedron was the one. She knew it. He was the one Shannon had been waiting for all of her life.
Yee haw, she wanted to stand up and shout, “and praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
WHOOSH… WHOOSH… A MAN’S VOICE.
“It’s been two weeks,” someone said.
“I don’t care if it’s been two years,” a male voice answered. “She will wake up, so don’t even go there.”
A door closed.
“If anyone talks negatively about Mira,” a woman whispered, “I swear to God, I’ll—”
“Shhhh,” the man told her. “She needs us to stay calm.”
She? Were they talking about her? Wake up? She was awake. Couldn’t they see that?
Everything was bright like a huge light was surrounding her. But she couldn’t see anyone. She tried to move, but couldn’t. Something touched her cheek. “Help me,” she tried, but no words came out.
A warm, soft cloth went down her arm… her hand… fingers. “Help!” Why couldn’t they hear her.? Where was she? She tried to move her legs, reach out her hand, but her muscles felt tight and wouldn’t move.
Suddenly, a million bubbles appeared. The bright light turned into a kaleidoscope of colors. Bubbles everywhere floated above her, around her, evaporating when they landed on her shoulders, her head, and hands. When they disappeared as quickly as they came, the whispers returned.
Her head hurt. Someone touched her arm. She tried to move again, but couldn’t. Her heart started beating faster… faster.
“Something’s happening!” the woman shouted. “She’s trying to open her eyes. Get someo
ne. Hurry!”
“Someone help me!” Panicked, she tried again to talk, but nothing came out.
She managed to put a hand up to her face and, when she felt something over her nose, she tried to rip it off. A low garble escaped from her throat. Pin-like prickles ran up both legs; her arms felt as if they didn’t belong to her, and her throat was raw.
“It’s okay,” she heard.
She began to flail her arms, and when her hand hit something cold and hard, she heard a crash.
“Nurse!” a man called out.
Lights…walls…ceiling all ran together. She couldn’t catch her breath.
Someone strong was holding down her arms and legs as warm tears tore down her cheeks.
“It’s okay, honey,” a voice close to her ear soothed. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
She tried to make out faces, but noses, mouths, and ears were globs that came in and out of her vision. They looked like monsters.
She tried to raise her hips, scream out to leave her alone, but strong arms held her down. “Let me go,” came out as, “Rore oh.”
When she felt a quick stab in her hip, her arms and body started to slow. She let out a low moan and, within seconds, she lay frozen in place. No! Please, no. Help me!
“It’s okay, Punkin’”
Crying… whispers… and then silence.
She’d been in and out of sleep for hours before her eyes opened. When she saw someone she didn’t know looking down at her, her heart started to pound. Who was he? Was he going to hurt her?
“Don’t be afraid.” He patted her arm gently. “I’m your doctor. You’re in a hospital.” His voice was soothing. “You were sick, but we’re making you all better.”
Her eyes moved to behind him where she saw a man and woman with their arms around each other. The lady was crying softly.
“Can you hear me?” The doctor took out what looked like a pen but had a tiny light on the end. He put it close to her eyes. “Try to follow the light with your eyes.”
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