Healing Kiss, page 11
Hannah laughed, which turned into a cough, reminding Lillian her sister was still recovering. “Of course, he agreed. He likes you. A whole heck of a lot.”
Lillian pulled a chair next to the bed and sat, eyeing the ball of yarn and knitting needles. “Don’t go getting any harebrained ideas. I only met him yesterday, and it’s dangerous my being here. Did you decide what you’re making?”
Hannah grinned, and to Lillian, the sight was worth all the worry and fear she’d experienced since returning to Cleveland.
“Socks—you can never have enough…” She wove the needle through the yarn. “Plus, they make great gifts.”
Lillian cleared her throat, hating to break the light-hearted moment. “I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning.”
Her dad lowered his voice. “Does he know?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t tell him anything. But he’s a smart man. He suspects something’s wrong with me.”
“You’re worried they’re on to you,” Hannah whispered. “What happened?”
Lillian folded her hands in her lap. She didn’t want to alarm her family, but she’d told enough lies for today. She kept her voice soft. “Dad, have you been calling the nurses multiple times to ask after Hannah?”
Her father shot her a puzzled frown. “No, I’ve been here. Why?”
“Did you send the nurses flowers?”
“No, but that’s not a bad idea.”
“Too late. Someone else already thought of it. They signed the card from you.”
The puzzled look on her dad’s face morphed into alarm.
“There’s more. This afternoon, someone tried to break into Tristan’s home. They weren’t successful. He thinks we scared them off when we pulled in.”
Hannah’s face lost color. “Did Tristan call the cops?”
“No, he called his security firm. They told him his video camera malfunctioned.”
“There’s more, though, isn’t there?” Hannah reached for Lillian’s hand and squeezed it between her palms. Her sister’s empathic gift clued her in on Lillian’s emotions before she could relay the rest of the details.
“While we were there, Kinetica’s CEO showed up. I suspect Tristan is considering a large investment in the company, hoping they can develop a cure for his mom’s disease—a disease he worries he may have inherited.”
Hannah raised her eyebrows. “I thought he was a burner?”
“He is. He won’t develop Huntington’s. But I can’t tell him that. He’s already suspicious of me, and he wouldn’t understand.”
“Did the CEO recognize you?” her dad asked, his dear face creased in alarm.
Lillian shook her head. “He didn’t seem to, but unfortunately, his presence caught me off-guard, and Tristan told him I’m a nurse, which piqued his interest. And it’s too much of a coincidence for me to stay and jeopardize everyone’s safety. It breaks my heart to leave you both again, but I booked an early morning flight to Boston.”
“So this is goodbye?” her dad asked, his expression grim.
Lillian nodded, afraid to speak.
“Are you sure you have to go so soon?” Hannah sniffed, her eyes glittering with unshed tears.
“Yes, Mom warned us what would happen if they catch me. How they’ll force me to kill innocent people to perform their ‘tests.’ How they’ll torture me until I agree. As long as I stay hidden, they won’t find me, and you’ll all be safe.”
“But they haven’t found you for two years. Are you sure you have to keep hiding?”
“They haven’t found me because I’ve kept a low profile. I don’t work unless I’m paid under the table, and I use the cash I earn and what Dad sends to pay the bills. No credit cards or bank accounts mean no paper trails. But now Kinetica’s looking at your medical records; they must suspect I’m still alive. Your turnaround is the evidence they’re looking for. I’ve run out of time.”
“Tristan has the resources to keep you safe. And he has feelings for you.” Hannah’s big brown eyes radiated worry.
Lillian dug her nails into her palms. “Yeah, angry feelings. He’s sharp…he knows I’m not telling the truth.”
“It’s more than that, Lillian. I felt it when I first woke up, and he was here. And when I held his hand a moment ago, I knew. He cares for you. Feels protective. I believe he’d understand if you told him the truth.”
Lillian pushed her chair out and stumbled to the window. “You know I can’t ever do that.”
“Why not?” Hannah’s voice followed her. “He’s a billionaire. I think he would spend quite a bit to ensure your safety. And he’s drawn to you—he won’t let go easily.”
“He doesn’t need to be saddled with this. No one does. Being with me is dangerous. What if they kill him? Because that’s what they’ll do if they find me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. Mom told us in her letter. Kinetica will stop at nothing to get what they want. Don’t you remember?” She held up a finger as she ticked off the facts.
“They want healers like me, and there’s not that many of us. Only twenty-five women were part of the original study before the government shut it down, and they’re all dead. Only about a quarter of their female offspring inherited the gene, and only a few of us have the special DNA which allows us to heal others. They need me and the others to conduct their experiments. As long as they believe I’m dead, we’re safe. But if they discover I’m alive, they’ll find me. And when they do, they’ll kill you, Dad, and anyone else who gets in their way.”
She paced from the window to the bed. “I shouldn’t even be staying with Tristan now. If this hadn’t been an emergency, I’d never have involved him.”
Hannah sniffed. “He’s not keeping secrets. I’d know it if he was.”
“He asked me a few questions,” her dad said.
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “When you were sleeping earlier, he wanted to know where you lived in Denver. I told him I didn’t know, you moved around so much. Then he wanted to know what I thought of your nursing skills.”
Lillian stopped pacing. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him you were well-trained…”
“And…?”
Her father passed a hand through his hair and smiled. “Your nursing skills are better than your cooking skills.”
She laughed, and suddenly they were all laughing. She felt almost normal, being with her family again. By the time Dr. Beyton walked through the doorway and approached Hannah, Lillian had almost forgotten the danger of her situation. Almost. Worry always hovered nearby, waiting to squelch her joy.
“I see having your loved ones around is doing you some good,” the doctor said to Hannah. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better.”
The doctor looked over her chart. “Your recovery is incredible. Your vitals are greatly improved. The nurses tell me your appetite has returned.”
“Does this mean I can go home?”
He placed a stethoscope on Hannah’s chest and listened closely before dropping it and offering another wide smile. “Your lungs sound much better, but there’s still a bit of congestion on the latest chest X-ray. We’ll see about releasing you tomorrow, but I’d like to keep you here for a little while longer, just to be safe. If you continue with this remarkable recovery, though, it seems likely. In the meantime, enjoy your visit. I’m off to see another patient.”
The doctor waved a hand at the three of them and left the room as one of the nurses entered, carrying a large vase with an assortment of brightly colored pink, purple, and white flowers. She placed the vase on the table next to Hannah. “These are for you.”
Hannah smiled. “They’re gorgeous. Read the card, Lillian.”
Lillian reached for the card and read the printed black handwriting. “Celebration flowers — Tristan.”
“How thoughtful of him.”
“Yes.” Lillian tucked the card back among the flowers, a familiar tingle racing down her spine.
“Speak of the devil,” Hannah mumbled.
Lillian’s blood heated in her veins, and she tried not to look at the attractive picture Tristan made where he stood in the doorway. He carried a gift bag, which he presented to Hannah with a flourish.
“A small gift to go with the flowers. But the nurse told me the doctor thinks you can go home tomorrow, so maybe I should take it back?”
“No way, mister.” Hannah took the gift bag. “I love the flowers, too. Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
Tristan smiled. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal. It’s the least I can do.”
But he’d already done so much for Hannah—for her—just by being there, although he didn’t know it. Lillian’s skin prickled, and she raised her gaze until she met his. He looked at her as if he knew the truth. A shiver chased across her skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake. She crossed her arms.
“This is fantastic.” Hannah held up a roll of soft, gray yarn. “I’ll make some more socks. I was just telling Zoey a girl can never have too many.” She reached into the bag and pulled out a hardback book and gushed. “And the newest Tom Grady mystery. I’m so excited to read this. How did you know? Oh, I told the nurse…she must have told you.”
Tristan nodded and brushed aside Hannah’s thanks with a shrug. He hadn’t taken his gaze off Lillian. Now he crossed to her side. “You look exhausted. Why don’t we head out so you can rest before the event tonight.”
Her muscles tensed—this was it, her final moments with her family. “I need just a little longer to say goodbye.”
Tristan nodded. “I’ll wait outside.”
Her dad’s concerned gaze met hers after Tristan departed, and he lowered his voice so they wouldn’t be overheard. “You’re going back to his house? Is that wise?”
“Probably not. But my car and suitcase are there, and I made a deal with him.”
“What deal?”
“In exchange for him going to the hospital with me last night, I promised to attend a fundraiser with him tonight. That was the only way he’d agree to help Hannah. I won’t stay long, though. I’ll be on a flight first thing tomorrow morning.”
Hannah offered a mischievous smile. “He obviously likes you if he’s bargaining for a date with you.”
“That’s not why he did it. He needed a partner and asked me because he felt I wouldn’t get attached. I think there is…a woman he’s trying to avoid.”
“And you believed that? Heck, if I realized getting sick was the way to get you to come visit and you’d meet the love of your life, I’d have done it ages ago,” Hannah teased.
“He’s just an acquaintance.” Lillian’s eyes burned, but she refused to let the tears fall. There’d be plenty of time for crying when she was back in her apartment in Boston. “Don’t you dare get sick again. My heart can’t take it. And I might not be able to cure you next time.”
She reached for their hands, and the three of them stayed unmoving for a moment.
“I love you both,” she said. “I promise I’ll come home again when it’s safe.”
“It’s okay, Lillian. Really. I’ll miss you, but I understand why you have to go.”
“Hannah will be fine now,” her dad said. “You only need to worry about yourself.”
“Stay well, sweetheart,” Lillian whispered.
The sisters hugged and cried and eventually parted.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” her dad said and followed her there. He placed a wad of cash in her hand. “This should last you for a little while until I can send more.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“What about a ride to the airport?”
“I have the car you rented for me, remember? You stay here and make sure Hannah gets home okay tomorrow.”
“I wish to God your mother never participated in that damn study. I still wonder if we should have gone to the police after we discovered the truth.”
She gripped his arm. “You read Mom’s letter. She warned us not to do that unless we had concrete proof—that it would only alert Kinetica to my existence.”
Her dad sighed and wrapped her in his arms, squeezing the oxygen from her lungs. “I love you, Lou-Lou. I won’t rest a minute until you’re safe in your apartment. Make sure to let me know as soon as you’re home. And keep a low profile at that party. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“I’ll be careful. I promise. I’ll call you just as soon as I can.”
And then she was heading out the door, swiping at the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing, and she suspected, looking a complete and utter wreck.
Tristan was waiting outside when she stepped into the hallway. He took one look at her face and reached for her hands, his warm breath parting her hair. “What is it? Is Hannah okay?”
Lillian struggled to remember all the reasons she shouldn’t let Tristan get close but couldn’t recall a single one. She felt protected, cared for, safe. “Yes. She’s wonderful. I’m just missing her already. It’s…hard to say goodbye.”
She sniffed and somehow found the strength to let go of his hands, swiping at the tears that wouldn’t stop. “I’m sorry. I’m crying all over you.” She searched inside her purse and found a pack of tissues, her fingers trembling as she struggled to open it.
“I don’t care about that. I care about you. Here, let me.” Tristan took the package from her hands and pulled out a tissue. Then he tipped her chin and wiped the corners of her eyes. “Better?”
She hiccupped and nodded, and he shoved the tissue in his back pocket and pulled out another, which he handed to her.
She took it and blew her nose, then crumpled the used tissue and stuffed it in her purse, along with the package of unused tissues Tristan returned to her.
He smiled and reached again for her cold hand, which he held between his warm ones. “How are you feeling?”
She tried to smile, but she suspected it looked pitiful. “Okay.” Ignoring the fluttering in her chest, Lillian kept her hand in his. Energy flowed between them, heating her from the inside out.
“Before we leave, there’s someone I’d like to introduce you to.”
“Tristan, I…”
“Please.” He held up a hand. “I promise it will take no more than twenty minutes. It would mean a great deal to me if you would meet my mother while you’re both here.”
She hesitated, then nodded. It was a small favor she could do in return for his help saving Hannah.
He led her down the hallway, and by the time they reached their destination—in a totally different section of the hospital—she was out of breath and her skin tingled all over. He knocked on a door and then opened it, gesturing Lillian inside.
A thin woman lay in a hospital bed—Tristan’s mom, Lillian presumed. She was a lot like Tristan—dark curly hair, blue eyes fringed by dark eyelashes, straight nose. But that’s where the similarities ended. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her skin had a pale-yellow tone.
“Mom, this is the friend I was telling you about…Zoey. Zoey, I’d like you to meet my Mom, Brenda.”
“So nice to meet you.” Lillian breathed through her nose, careful not to disturb Brenda’s energy level, which flickered like a candle with a short wick—one wrong move on Lillian’s part could snuff it from existence.
She gave Brenda a warm smile and sat in one of the chairs near the bed.
Tristan bent his tall frame and hugged his mom. “Feeling better?”
“My head still hurts. What did you say your friend’s name was again?”
“Zoey. Remember, she’s the nurse who’s staying with me while her friend is ill.” Tristan’s tone soothed.
“She’s pretty.” Brenda smiled at Lillian like a child who’d spotted a long-awaited toy.
Blood heated Lillian’s cheeks, and she pressed cool fingers against them. “Kind of you to say so.”
“Tristan’s never brought any of his girlfriends to see me before.” She glanced at Tristan. “Have you?”
Tristan smiled. “No, Mom.”
“We’re just friends,” Lillian said. She cast a quick glance at Tristan, but his face didn’t change expression, so she had no idea what he thought of his mom referring to Lillian as his girlfriend.
“Zoey is a talented nurse.”
Lillian tucked her hands under her legs. If she thought she could cure his mom now, she would skip the fundraiser, knowing her debt had been paid. But the moment she sat next to Tristan’s mom, she understood it would prove challenging. Brenda’s body chemistry was vastly different from Lillian’s, making it impossible to attempt a cure in Lillian’s exhausted state.
She pulled in air and held it in her lungs so she wouldn’t harm Brenda and gave her a warm smile. “It’s lovely to meet you.” Lillian ignored the glimmer of light in her mind’s eye. A dark shadow covered most of it, indicating the extent the disease had taken over Brenda King’s body. Her health was declining fast.
Brenda’s expression changed, going from calm and serene to annoyed in an instant. “You’re not the nurse I had this morning.”
“Zoey isn’t your nurse, Mom. She’s my friend.”
Brenda’s glare intensified, and she raised her voice, becoming agitated. “Why would you bring a stranger here,” she said to Tristan. “You know I’m not feeling well. What were you thinking?”
Tristan gentled his voice and clasped his mom’s hands in both of his. “Zoey has become an important friend in a short space of time. I wanted you to meet her before she has to leave.”
Lillian couldn’t seem to catch her breath—his mother hated her, but Tristan had just admitted Lillian was important to him. Was he exaggerating? She bit her lip. What difference did it make what he confessed. Lillian couldn’t let their friendship interfere with her plans to leave Cleveland tomorrow.
“You shouldn’t have brought her here. I don’t like her.”
