The elevator door whisked open and Harper flew through it and made her way down the corridor to the nurse’s station.
“Can you tell me what room Daphne Madison is in?” she asked the nurse.
“Excuse me, who are you?”
“I'm her granddaughter.”
The woman glanced at a board on the wall behind her. Harper did the same but she couldn't see her grandmother's name listed amongst the other patients.
“Are you sure she's here?”
Frustration bubbled over, making her snap. “What is wrong with you all? My grandmother was brought to the hospital. Why is it that no one can find her?”
“Harper?”
Relief flooded her when she heard her grandmother's voice. She swung around and found her grandmother standing in the doorway of one of the hospital rooms halfway down the hall.
“That's my grandmother.”
Harper started to walk away but the nurse stood up and called out, “Visiting hours are over in ten minutes.”
Harper waved her off and said thank you. Then she ran to her grandmother, giving her a quick hug when she got to the room.
“Why didn't you tell me you were coming here? Are you okay?” Harper asked.
“Of course I am. If I were hurt, they would've told you. Besides, I called you earlier. You knew I was calling for Joel.”
“But I got this note. You mean Nash didn't bring you here because you were hurt?”
“Of course not. What a nice man. He drove me here because they wouldn’t let me drive with Joel in the ambulance. They wanted to make sure he hadn’t fractured his hip. That’s why they’re keeping him overnight. He’s not happy about it. So I thought I'd keep him company here tonight. I just fluffed his pillows and this nice nurse here said she’d bring me a cot to sleep on. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Um, yeah, sure.”
“Hospitals can feel so cold even when you have such nice nurses helping you. I spent a few nights here with your grandfather. It's not a fun place to be when you're alone.”
She saw the warmth in her grandmother's eyes and wanted to be happy for her.
“You like him, don't you?”
The little twinkle in her grandmother's eye said it all. “You don't have to stay, sweetie. I’m fine. I told Nash the same thing when he dropped me off. He insisted on going downstairs to the cafeteria and getting us some food before he left.”
“You mean Nash is still here?”
She turned her hand and looked around. “He's somewhere. If I know that man—and I don't yet, but I have a feeling I'd like to—he probably went to the restaurant across the street to get some decent food so we won't have to eat what they're serving in the cafeteria.” Her grandmother made a face and mouthed. “It’s not good.”
Harper chuckled and then folded her hands across her chest. “What did you say to him, Grandma?”
Her grandmother shrugged. “I'm old. I get to say what I want and get a pass.”
Harper chuckled. “Oh, really. When did you figure that out?”
“When I opened the door and he didn't even hesitate to come inside. You should have seen the stricken look on his face. And it wasn’t for me. Don't give up on him yet. He may have some things to work out, but I have a feeling he's a keeper. No sense giving up on a keeper.”
“Grandma. It's complicated.”
“It's always is. Working through the complications makes it all the sweeter.” Then she nodded her head as she glanced down the hallway.
Harper turned and found Nash walking down the hallway holding a take-out bag from the restaurant across the street.
“How did you know?” she asked her grandmother.
“I'm old. But I can spot a man in love.”
She watched Nash walking down the hallway and tried to think of a time she was more relieved and scared at the same time. She didn’t have the energy to go through another round of disappointment with him. And yet, it was so good to have him here.
She turned away and focused on her grandmother. “How is Mr. Stephens?”
“He’s having an X-ray. They don’t think anything is broken but because he’s old, they’re keeping him overnight. They actually said that perhaps we shouldn’t dance anymore. Can you believe that? We’re old but we’re not dead yet.”
Harper smiled.
Her grandmother’s smile widened, indicating that Nash was almost to the room.
“You’re such a nice man,” her grandmother said.
“The café downstairs was ready to close, Daphne. So I went across the street. Sorry it took so long.”
“That’s okay. It was very thoughtful of you.”
The amount of sugar her grandmother was pouring on Nash made Harper’s teeth hurt.
Her grandmother's eyes grew wider. Harper could see the twinkle in her eye as soon as Mr. Stephens came toward the room in a wheelchair being pushed by an aide.
“I told you I wouldn't be long, Dolly,” he said.
She turned and looked at her grandmother with her back turned to Mr. Stephens and mouthed the word Dolly. Her grandmother just smiled and shrugged. Then she walked out into the hall fully to greet Mr. Stephens.
“I told them to get you an extra pillow,” she said. “The one on the bed feels a little spongy and the bed is a little firm. I hope that won't be a problem for you. I know you have a bad back.”
“I like the way you take care of me, Dolly.”
The nurse wheeled Mr. Stephens into the hospital room and her grandmother followed.
“You don't have to stay, dear,” her grandmother called over her shoulder. “If you don't mind coming by in the morning, you can bring us both home
