Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Caroline

A bright light.

For a split second I wonder if I'm in heaven. At least I hope it's heaven. Not sure I've racked up enough good deeds to warrant it. I squint, looking for Bernard, Mom and Dad. I'm not sad. Actually, it'll be nice to catch up.

A face takes shape.

"Caroline?"

I blink and the light shifts. It's a face I know. Confusion sets in.

"Calvin?" I croak. "What are you doing here?" Maybe we made the celestial voyage together. For some reason I find the notion comforting.

He smiles but it's not his usual smile. "You gave us quite a scare, Mrs. Page."

With my eyelids at half-mast, I look around at the space. Medical equipment on wheels surrounds me. "Where am I?"

"In the ER. Imagine my surprise when you were brought in."

"I'm not dead?" I ask, wiggling my toes beneath the flimsy sheet. I'm suddenly freezing and a shiver runs through me.

Before I can say more, Calvin is placing a blanket up to my chin. "Never on my watch," he says. I can tell he's trying for light-hearted but it falls flat.

Still, I have no idea what he's talking about and then it comes back. I was at The Boathouse with Sam. "Is Sam okay?"

His brow is knotted. Also, he's shaved. The unruly beard is now a few hairs longer than a five o'clock shadow. "She's fine. She was here for several hours while you slept but needed to go home to her kids. She's very worried about you."

Sounds like he's talking about someone else. "What happened?"

He pales. "You passed out at the restaurant. An ambulance brought you in. Your heart rate was off the charts. We got it down with meds."

His staccato speech is off-putting, like he's having trouble catching his breath between sentences.

"Oh." I have nothing else to add. The whole thing is crazy.

Calvin steps back and taking a deep breath, lifts my chart from the foot of the bed. He proceeds to ask several strange questions like my name, the year, my age.

"None of your business," I say to the last question though I'm fully aware he has the information right in front of him.

He chuckles, the color returning to his handsome features. "Glad you're back to yourself."

I don't tell him I feel anything but. "What time is it?"

He points to the large clock on the wall.

I sit up, immediately regretting the quick movement. My head is spinning like a merry-go-round on steroids.

Calvin is back at my side, his hand on my shoulder, gently pushing me back into the pillow. "Whoa. Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm supposed to get back to my attorney about the lawsuit if I'm going to settle out of court. I need time to review my strategy."

"Not important now."

I sigh. "Easy for you to say."

"Actually, it's not. You need to rest. The stress is going to kill you."

"Bit dramatic."

"You came very close, Caroline. Very."

What?

I see him gearing up for more details when Evie walks through the door, followed by Barbie and to my surprise, Mo. She's not a fan of mine.

Evie looks like she's about to cry. I pray not. It will make me teary as well and I can't risk it. I'm an ugly crier.

She hurries to my side and avoiding the machines and tubes, gives me a careful hug. "You scared the living whatever out of me."

"Sorry," I mumble into her hair. "Sam told you?"

She pulls back, sniffling. "Yes. I'm so grateful I was still in town."

"Me too." I wish she would never leave but I don't say so. She's happy with Adam in Yosemite.

Evie turns to Calvin, giving him the once over. "You're Doctor Handsome."

I have no idea how she knows that. I've never shown her a picture.

Calvin crinkles his nose. "Huh?"

"Nothing." To me, she says, "At least you're in good hands." She winks at me. Thankfully, Calvin doesn't see it.

A nurse steps into the room. It's getting crowded in here.

"Doctor, we need you, now." Her face is tense and Calvin says to me, "You and I will talk."

I don't think I've ever heard such a dire tone from him. Before I can ask what else we need to talk about, he hurries after the nurse, leaving me more perplexed than ever.