Page 20

"She’s teasing him, Mom," Madison explains. "Which means Brooklyn is getting back to her old, cheeky self."
Fifteen minutes later, Madison and Eleanor say their goodbyes, and I see Brooklyn’s expression fall.
As soon as the door closes, she asks, "How much longer will I have to stay here?"
"Not as long as I initially thought. You’re recovering much faster than I predicted."
"Give me a number of days."
"No fewer than three weeks. No more than a month."
"Why not fifteen days?"
"I never lie, Brooklyn. I won’t discharge you until I’m certain there are no hidden complications."
"Are you going to examine me now?"
"In a bit. I’ll call the rest of the team when I do."
She looks like she’s about to say something but then stops herself.
"What is it?" I ask.
"I don’t want to be rude. I’m very direct, and some people don’t take it well."
"I’m not ‘some people.’ I always prefer the truth."
"Okay. If you weren’t here to examine me—and I assume you knew my children were here since you authorized the visit—why did you come?"
I look at her, wondering if she’s already realized my interest in her has gone beyond just being her doctor. If she has, she doesn’t seem uncomfortable.
I don’t claim to understand emotions, but I do understand body language, and hers isn’t rejecting me. She might not even be aware of it, but her posture is welcoming.
"You’re not ready for that answer yet. It’s too soon, Brooklyn."
She swallows hard. "Too soon for what?"
The door opens, and Inara, the head nurse, steps in. "Dr. Athanasios, good afternoon. Mr. Zeus Kostanidis is in the hallway with a police detective and a lawyer, waiting to enter and take Brookl—um—Miss Foster’s statement."
I nod and move to leave, but Brooklyn’s voice stops me.
"Don’t go."
I turn back, confused. "You want me to stay while you talk to the detective?"
"Yes. Maybe hearing the details of what happened will help you clear me for discharge sooner." She’s lying, and we both know it.
I notice Inara discreetly leaving the room. "Why do you want me to stay, Brooklyn?"
She avoids my gaze. "Before all of this happened, I thought I was invincible. I needed to believe that because there wasn’t another option. Now, I’m scared. And you don’t seem afraid of anything. I need a little of your confidence."
Brooklyn
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I haveno idea why I asked him to stay. Dr. Athanasios is my doctor and nothing more.
It wasn’t something I thought through—it was just a gut feeling that I wanted him nearby.