Sweet Lake (Sweet Lake #1) by Christine Nolfi

Author:Christine Nolfi [Nolfi, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1503942511
Amazon: B01IH81XUM
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2017-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

The inpatient ward of the Devlin Institute hummed with subdued, orderly activity. There seemed as many nurses on staff in the world-class facility as patients recuperating in the long corridor of private rooms. The antiseptic scent Daniel associated with medical facilities was missing, and the walls boasted a cheery yellow paint. The color reminded him of Fancy, the bright strands of hair fluttering behind her whenever she raced after Puddles.

At the nurses’ station, a brunette nodded in greeting.

“Has Mr. Wayfair arrived?” Daniel asked her. “We’re here to see Bryce Reed. His surgery was this morning.”

She typed in the name. “I’m sorry. He hasn’t arrived.”

Daniel glanced at his watch. Where the hell was Freddie? He’d promised to make an appearance. Bryce’s surgery had gone well, and his parents were undoubtedly visiting. They expected to finally meet the benefactor responsible for their son’s treatment. Disappointing them—and their son—was out of the question.

Retreating from the nurses’ station, Daniel pulled out his cell.

Freddie picked up. “Ozzie, there’s a limit to my patience. Are you sending the revisions or not?”

With effort, he tamped down his irritation. “Freddie, it’s Daniel. I’m in Cleveland. Where are you?”

“Cleveland . . . at Devlin? How’s Bryce?”

“Not sure. I’m about to go in.”

“Why haven’t you?”

The question was bizarre. “I’m waiting for you.” Lowering his voice, he added, “I spoke with the surgeon on the drive up. The cornea transplant for the right eye looks good. Dr. Eriksson isn’t sure about the left.”

On the other end, the news created a heavy silence. At last Freddie said, “Bryce may lose the sight in his left eye?”

“I didn’t get the impression Eriksson held out much hope.”

“When will he have a firm prognosis?”

“Next week. He’ll run more tests. Touch-and-go until then.”

“How awful.”

“Tough break for a young man.” Tough break for anyone, Daniel mused, but a kid Bryce’s age would take it especially hard. During their brief conversations, mention of a girlfriend never came up. Did the kid have a sweetheart, someone to reassure him if he needed a glass eye? Stowing the thought, Daniel got back on track. “All the more reason for you to put in an appearance, brighten his day. Are you still on the road?”

The offer to drive together had been refused. Freddie had mentioned stopping over in Columbus for the night. Something about a reunion with an old college buddy.

More silence, and he sensed the forming of a flimsy excuse.

“I never made it to Columbus. Obviously, Cleveland is out of the question.” Someone murmured in the background, and Freddie muffled the phone. When he came back on, he said, “The film, the one I’m shooting in August? There’s a problem with the script. One of the actresses will pull out of the production if we don’t beef up her role. I’m trapped at the Wayfair discussing plot revisions long distance. Poor Ozzie. He’s attempting to make the changes. He doesn’t work well under pressure . . .”

Down the corridor, Janis Reed stepped from a room. Casually she thumbed through her phone before slipping it back into her pocket.

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