Page 31 of Brooklynaire

“Then why are you going toRebecca’s?”

The same question has been rattling around in my chest all morning. “Because I found her this doctor and I want to hear what he says. And because we’ve known each other a long time. If you were sick and scared, I’d show up at yours if you wanted me to.” That was true.Probably.

“I hope I never need that favor fromyou.”

“As do I,buddy.”

I stare out at the river as we zip down the FDR toward the midtown exits. Rebecca should already be at her appointment by now. I hope the doctor takes his time with her. She needs answers. And since I bribed him to show up for work on a Sunday morning, he won’t exactly have other patients clamoring for hisattention.

“You know,Nate…”

“Hmm?”

When I turn to face Lauren, she’s studying me. “That was a good speech you gave the other day to the players.If not now, thenwhen.”

“Not the most original,” I pointout.

“It was heartfelt, though.” She clicks her pen absently with one manicured thumb. “I especially liked the part aboutWhy notme.”

“Well, really,” I say. “Why not us? This team can take it all theway.”

“Sure. But what aboutyou?”

“What aboutme?”

“If not now, then when?” She raises an eyebrow. “And whynotyou?”

“I don’t know what we’re taking about now. And I was paying attention like a goodboy.”

She shakes her head. The car is slowing to a stop in front of her East 30s apartment building. “I think you know what I mean. And if you don’t, then I hope you’ll figure it out soon. Give Rebecca mylove.”

Oh hell. Lauren is sneaky. Just as I’m thinking this, she slides out of the car and shuts the door, leaving me alone with my ownconfusion.

Ramesh continues downtown, making good time to the hospital, and I get there just before 11. But by the time I’ve located Dr. Armitage’s reception area on the ninth floor, a door opens at the end of the hallway, and Rebecca stepsout.

She’s brushing tears off herface.

Something goes wrong in my gut, and I speed toward her. Four or five paces is all it takes until I reach her. She looks up at me with wet eyes, and I can’t help myself. I pull her in until she lands against my chest. She’s warm and alive in my arms. If the doctor gave her bad news, I just won’t believe it. There’s nobody livelier than Rebecca. I know she’s going to be okay the same way I know the sun will rise again in themorning.

She takes a deep, shaky breath and lets me hugher.

“Tell me,” I command. Whatever the specialist said doesn’t matter. I’ll find an even specialer specialist who knows what the fuck to do aboutit.

“He s-said…” she hiccups. “H-he knows what’swrong.”

“And?” I bracemyself.

“And it’s going tobeokay.”

Her arms wrap around me. I pat her back absently while I try to make sense of what she’s just said. “That’s good,” I say carefully. “Then why are you soupset?”

“B-because…” She pulls back only far enough to give me a watery smile. “Nobody said that before! They said, ‘We don’t know why your injury doesn’t behave like a concussion. Just go home and wait.’ But Doctor Armitagesaid…”

“It’s a vestibular problem!” The voice booms from nearby, and I drag my eyes off Rebecca to find a grinning man with salt-and-pepper hair, offering me his hand. I shake Dr. Armitage’s hand, while he keeps talking. “The concussion isn’t the issue anymore. When Rebecca hit the ice, she disturbed some of the nerves in her ear. Normal sensory processing is temporarilyscrambled.”

“Oh.” I’ve actually read about this before. “It’s rarer than a concussion. But not worse.” The knot in my chest begins touncoil.

“That’s right. She’s going to have to put a lot of effort into her therapy here—” He stretches out a hand to indicate a glassed-off room full of colorful gym equipment. “She needs to train her body and brain to communicate efficiently again. My therapists will help her work on balance and coordination. In a few weeks she’ll see some improvement, and in a few months she will make a fullrecovery.”