Page 131 of Even After This
“I’ve got to take care of some logistics. I’m going to run by the hotel, get a few hours of sleep, and pick up a change of clothes for Harlan. If Alex’s status changes, you have my number. The driver is on call through the night, so if you need anything, text him.” She offers me a business card for the chauffeur company. “Per Harlan’s orders, I informed the producers he was meeting with not to come by tonight or tomorrow. But I’ll update them. They sent the giant cookie bouquet in the snack room.”
I take her elbow and guide herout of earshot. “Penelope, you’re not my assistant, so please feel free to say—”
“What do you need?” She pulls her phone out of her coat pocket.
“Prissy Prestidge is a realtor I’m working with in Colorado Springs. She’s connected to the Broadmoor—”
“I’m acquainted with Prissy.” While pressing commands onto her screen, she raises her eyebrows.
“We’re in the middle of negotiations on a house, and she’s called me all day. Will you please contact her and tell her I can’t do this now?” I fold a piece of hair behind my ear. “Assure her that I realize the deal may fall through.”
She shifts her focus from her phone to me and searches my face. “What if I can work with her on it for you?”
“No, thank you. The deal’s too big for me not to be completely involved at this point. I need to be here. It’s okay.” I wrap my arms around my pained stomach. “If I lose the property, I lose the property.”
“What can I do, Meredith?”
In spite of the intense energy coming from her, I silently hold her stare. There’s nothing she can do.
Resignation registers on her face, and she sighs her defeat. “How long are you planning to be in LA?”
“Just until Harlan’s family gets here. I mean, if he needs me longer, I can stay. But I don’t want to be in the way.” I pause. “I don’t want to make Olivia uncomfortable. And I don’t want to confuse Alex.”
She takes in a deep breath and nods. After she steps on the elevator, she turns. “Thank you for coming, Meredith.”
Penelope and I stand on the front lines, side by side. I don’t know when it happened, but we are now allies. Under different circumstances, we might have even become friends.
With one bed and one chair in Alex’s hospital room, Harlan and I switch off staying awake with Alex through the night. We don’t say much to each other. A pat on the back here, a squeeze of support there.
The night nurse comes and goes, checking vitals, drawing blood, and offering somber smiles.
With no change in her condition, Alex sleeps peacefully in sedation while we wait.
Not entirely sure how much later, I wake to the sounds of an orderly shuffling a cart. Sitting up, I stretch my arms over my head.
Harlan’s bloodshot eyes remain fixed on his daughter’s face. “I keep trying to figure out how to fix this. I should have been there.” His gravelly voice fills with regret as he locks his eyes on mine. “Do you ever think that? That you could have stopped it?”
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the tears. “Every day,” I force out.
His stare returns to Alex.
The clack of high heels against tile announces Penelope’s arrival before she crosses into our room. “I’ve been working with the airlines this morning. It looks like everyone should be here by noon.”
My chest tightens, and I swallow the lump of disappointment. Somehow I wanted more time.
I sense Harlan’s attention on me, but I keep my eyes on Penelope. If I even glance at him, I’ll fall apart.
“I’ll go look at flights and figure out when I can leave,” I say. Penelope’s probably already done this, but the comment is my getaway car. “My trip home to Texas won’t be affected by the storms.”
I force myself to move my feet and make a beeline down the hallway to the women’s restroom.
The small area only holds two stalls. I step into the larger one, slide down the wall, and sit on the cold tile floor. Tears flow down my cheeks. Some are for the whirlwind of the last twenty-four hours. Others fall for a little girl who fights for her life. Then others for my own broken heart. My separation from Harlan. Flashes of different hospitals. Three cherished ones lost.
“Meredith?” Penelope’s plush black heels peek from under the door.
“I’m sorry, Penelope.” I pull toilet paper off the holder. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
She pushes the unlocked door open, sits, and folds her legs under her as if she gets on the floor of a public bathroom wearing a pencil skirt every day. Without saying a word, she takes my hand.
