Chapter
20
“Mrs. Harless?” the doctor asked warily.
Lynn’s harsh expression softened, and the mean words she was about
to utter dropped from her tongue. “Yes?”
she asked dignifiedly.
“I’m Dr. Rosenblum. I
treated your husband,” the doctor said, extending his hand. Lynn shook it quickly and waited for him to
go on. “Your husband, Paul, suffered a
lot of bad injuries in the accident. I’m
very sorry, but these injuries were just too severe. I did everything I could. We all did.
But, unfortunately, we could not save him.”
“No! No, you’re lying! Stop it!” Lynn yelled, climbing to her feet.
“Mrs. Harless, I assure you, I wouldn’t lie-“ Dr. Rosenblum
started, but she refused to listen.
“Where is he? Where’s my
husband? I want to see him!” she yelled.
“In a few minutes,” Dr. Rosenblum said patiently. “You can see him in a few minutes. I’ll have a nurse come get you. For now, is there anything I-“
“Just get away from me!” she yelled, pushing him roughly.
Dr. Rosenblum said nothing, just turned and left the room.
As soon as he was gone, Lynn collapsed in her chair and began to
sob.
Watching her as she realized the doctor’s words were true, Angela
could not hold back her own tears anymore.
Letting out a sob of anguish, she collapsed into Nick’s arms, crying
against his broad chest.
He said nothing, knowing nothing he said would comfort her. Instead, he stood, stroking her back
compassionately and holding her.
Lynn looked up to see them like that, holding each other, and her
rage took over once again. “This is all
your fault, you know!” she yelled.
Shocked, Angela whirled out of Nick’s arms to face her
stepmother. “What did you say?” she
asked, aghast.
“It’s your fault he’s dead!” she yelled again, her eyes burning
with hot, angry tears.
“Stop that!” Nick yelled.
“You’re not being rational!
Angela didn’t do anything. She
was with me!”
“I know,” Lynn said, her voice low and angry. “She left, and Paul went after her, to see
where she had gone.” She focused on
Angela and continued by saying, “If it wasn’t for you and your going behind our
backs, your father would still be alive!”
Angela couldn’t believe the amount of hate that ran through Lynn’s
voice. Her horrible words were too much
to withstand, and Angela broke down crying again.
“Look what you’ve done!” Nick yelled. “Get out of here!”
“She deserved it. You both
did. It’s both of your faults that my
husband is dead!” Lynn yelled. With
that, she stood and flounced out of the room, leaving Nick to comfort Angela
once again.
As her tears slowed, Angela pulled back and looked up at him with
bright puffy eyes. “What am I going to
do, Nick?” she asked. “My parents are
both dead now. I… I can’t stay with Lynn
anymore. I just can’t!”
“Then don’t,” Nick replied softly.
“Come live with me.”
“Okay,” Angela said softly.
“I will.”
Nick managed to smile.
“Alright then. Come with me.”
“Wait, Nick. I… I don’t
think I’m ready to go home yet… to your house, I mean,” Angela said suddenly.
“Okay. You want to just
drive around for a bit?” Nick asked.
Angela nodded. “Sure,” she
said.
“Do you want to see your dad first?” Nick asked uncomfortably.
Angela thought about it for a moment, then slowly shook her
head. “No,” she whispered. “Lynn’s back there now probably, and I can’t
face her again. I need to get away.”
Nick nodded. “Okay,” he
said. “Let’s go then.” He took her hand, and together, they left
the hospital.
***
