Every Precious Thing

Finally, she put the picture away, pulled out her Blackberry and sent Richard a text.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Harp sat in the chair by the window of his motel room, the book in his hands. It had been at least ten years since he’d last picked up Lost Horizon. Before that, the intervals were shorter, maybe every three or four years. It was the only way he knew how to reconnect with Tom.

While the story of Shangri-La, a paradise hidden in the Himalayas, had always intrigued Harp, his older brother had thought it had an almost magical quality.

“Someday I’m going to find it,” Tom said once.

This confused Harp. “Isn’t it just a story and not a real place?”

His brother smiled. “I don’t mean the Shangri-La in the book.” He tapped the side of his head. “I mean my Shangri-La. It’s out there somewhere. I just gotta find it.”

This did little to clear things up for Harp, but he was used to hearing Tom talk like that, spouting off ideas and dreams that seemed real only because of the way his brother spoke of them.

Until Harp’s wife died, the day the telegram arrived at the farm telling Harp’s parents that Tom was missing and presumed dead was the worst day in Harp’s life. Still, he’d held out hope. Presumed dead wasn’t officially dead.

Even before the war ended, Harp had concocted a story in which Tom’s plane had gone down near one of the Indonesian islands. Tom had been able to get to shore, but in the wreck had hit his head and forgotten his past. Amnesia stories were big at the movies. Why couldn’t it have happened with Tom? In Harp’s mind, his brother had married an island girl, had spent his days fishing from canoes and playing on the beach. In a way, Harp had constructed a Shangri-La for him.

Now, nearly seventy years later, there was still a part of him that believed Tom was alive out there somewhere.

With a grunt, Barney pushed himself out of bed. “Morning,” he said as he shuffled into the bathroom.

Harp finished the chapter then closed the book. Doing so reminded him of the fact that Logan still had Len’s letter.

He still wasn’t sure how he was going to handle it. He knew why Len had left it for him, what he wanted Harp to do. They had talked about it many times, the trip they were going to take together, the trip Len said Harp had to take, even if alone. Harp just wasn’t sure he could.

As he’d done several times before, he tried to tell himself he could think about it later, but later was getting closer and closer. He would have to make a decision.

He owed it to Len, but more importantly, he owed it to Tom.

Later, he thought again.

As soon as Barney was ready, they returned to the hospital. As they walked through the lobby, the receptionist-the kind one, not the judgmental prude who was there the first day-greeted them with a big smile. “Mr. Harper, Dr. Needham, good morning.”

“Morning, Myra. How are you doing today?” Harp asked.

“Just fine, thank you. I have good news for you.”

The two men walked over to the counter. “Really? What news?”

“Your friend’s being discharged this morning.”

“Excuse me?” Harp said.

“Are you sure?” Barney asked.

As far as both men were concerned, this was not good news. While Pep had been improving, he was still pretty banged up.

Taken aback by their response, Myra said, “Oh…um…I was told he was cleared to go home.”

“Who told you that?” Harp asked.

“Perhaps you need to speak with Dr. Groves,” she said. Groves was Pep’s main doctor.

“Is he in?” Barney asked.

“He’s in the hospital somewhere. If he’s not near your friend’s room, he won’t be far.”

As they turned to make their way to Pep’s room, they nearly ran into a young guy in a suit who’d been waiting behind them.

“Sorry,” the guy said.

“It’s okay,” Harp told him. He and Barney then marched over to the hallway.

They found Pep already dressed in his street clothes, sitting uncomfortably in a wheelchair near the bed. Dr. Groves, however, was not present.

“Hey,” Pep said.

“What’s this about you being discharged?” Barney asked.

“Yeah, they’re letting me leave.”

“Whose idea was that?”

Pep shrugged. “The doctor came in this morning and said he saw no reason to keep me another night.”

Harp and Barney shared a look then turned back to Pep.

“Have they looked at you?” Harp asked. “You’re in no shape to leave.”

“I’m going to find Dr. Groves,” Barney announced, and strode out of the room.

“Honestly, Mr. Harper,” Pep said. “I really don’t want to stay any longer.”

“Of course you don’t,” Harp said. “Who would? But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay.”

“I can’t help your son from a hospital bed.”

“Don’t even worry about that. Logan’s got everything in hand.”

Pep looked surprised. “Did he find her?”

“He’s close, I think.”

“All the more reason for me to get out of here.”

Before Harp could respond, Barney returned.

“…just plain dumb,” he was saying. “Whoever came up with those guidelines is an idiot.”

Following right behind him was the doctor.

“I can’t argue with you,” Groves said. “A few more days would be great, but strictly speaking, whether he rests here or at home isn’t going to make a lot of difference. And since his insurance won’t cover the extra days, staying any longer would come out of his pocket.”

“They’ll pay if you say it’s necessary,” Barney argued.

“But I can’t say it’s necessary. If I did, I’d have to apply that standard to all our patients. And you know what will happen then? Insurance companies will stop approving treatments here, and the medical center will have to shut down. There’s a bigger picture here than you’re considering.”

“I think you’re exaggerating.”

“I wish I was,” the doctor said in a conciliatory tone. He turned his attention to Pep. “Mr. Pepper, I wish we could keep you longer, but the thing you need now more than anything else is rest. You can do that just as well in your own bed as here.”

“It’s okay, Doctor. I’m fine with it.”

Groves gave him a thankful smile. “They’re finishing up your paperwork. You should be good to go in fifteen minutes or so.”

“Thanks.”

The doctor glanced at Harp and Barney. “Gentlemen, I’m sorry about the situation, and I do agree with you, but there’s nothing I can do. I have other patients I need to see, so if you’ll excuse me…”

As soon as he was gone, Barney said to Pep, “When I was starting out as a doctor, you would have been in the hospital for a week, minimum.”

“I would have also had to watch debut episodes of I Love Lucy,” Pep said.