Alone (D. D. Warren) by Lisa Gardner

Author:Lisa Gardner
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2005-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

20

CATHERINE ARRIVED AT the hospital just in time to find her in-laws standing by the nurses' desk.

“I'm the boy's grandfather,” James was saying with his best you-want-to-cooperate-with-me grin. “Of course it's okay for me to take the boy home.”

“Sir, Nathan's mother signed the admit papers. I can't do anything without consulting her.”

“And it's wonderful that you're so diligent. I commend you. Unfortunately, my daughter-in-law is extremely busy with funeral preparations right now. Hence, we were sent to get Nathan. It's the least we could do during this very trying time.”

James tightened his arm around Maryanne. On cue, she joined him in smiling at the nurse. Maryanne was a shade paler than James, dark shadows bruising her eyes, but still with every hair and pearl in place. They made an impeccable united front. The powerful judge and his fragile, charming wife.

Already, the nurse seemed to be weakening.

James leaned forward, pressing the advantage. “Let's go see Nathan. He'll be very excited to go with us. You'll see that it's all right.”

“I should at least consult his doctor,” the nurse murmured, then glanced down at the admit papers and promptly frowned. “Oh dear.”

“What is it?”

“Nathan's pediatrician, Dr. Rocco. I'm afraid . . . Oh dear, oh dear.” The nurse's voice trailed off. She was clearly distressed by what had happened to Dr. Rocco, and now becoming quickly overwhelmed.

Catherine took that as her cue. She walked up to the desk, gaze going straight to the nurse's name tag.

“Nurse Brandi, so good to see you again. How is Nathan this morning?”

“Feeling better,” the nurse said brightly, then glanced nervously from Catherine to James and Maryanne, then to Catherine again.

Catherine decided to solve the dilemma for the woman. She put her hand on her father-in-law's arm. A first-class showman himself, he didn't flinch.

“Thank you so much for helping out,” she told James with a warm smile, then flashed the same grateful grin over at Maryanne. “Fortunately, I finished up at the funeral parlor sooner than I expected, so I came to get Nathan myself.”

“Really, you shouldn't have,” James said. “Maryanne and I would be delighted to watch the boy for a while. You should rest.”

“Yes, dear,” Maryanne echoed. “You must be exhausted. Let us watch Nathan. We have this wonderful room at the Hotel LeRoux. It will be a great treat for him after all this time in a hospital.”

“Oh no. I'm sure after everything Nathan has been through, it would be much nicer for him to go straight home.”

“To the house where his father died?” James asked dryly.

“To the comfort of his own bedroom.”

James thinned his lips. He and Maryanne exchanged glances. Catherine turned swiftly to Nurse Brandi.

“I'd like to see Nathan now.”

“Of course.”

“I'm sure someone must be filling in for Dr. Rocco. Please find that doctor and have him sign the discharge papers so I can take Nathan home.” Catherine held up the Louis Vuitton bag she was carrying. “I'll work on getting my son into his clothes.”

Maryanne spoke up brightly. “Why don't we

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