“Yes,” Derian said.
“Then if you’re not here when the doctor
finishes, we’ll be sure someone calls you.”
“We’ll be here.” Derian wasn’t leaving
anything to chance, and if positive energy played any role in fate, she
intended to give it all she had.
“All right then. We’ll be out as soon as
we’re finished.”
She left as quickly as she had come and
Derian turned to Emily. “Are you hungry?”
“Not really,” Emily said. “These places
always seem to take my appetite away.”
Derian grimaced. “I know what you mean.” She
glanced around at the bare-bones décor in the bland, somewhat dingy room that
seemed to have absorbed all the tragedies played out within its walls. “They
try, I get that, but this place is two parts desolation, one part desperation,
and the last part despair.”
Emily regarded her with concern. “I think it
might be a good idea if we take a walk.”
“I’m sorry, you’re right.” Derian rubbed the
headache between her eyes. “The waiting is getting to me. I hate being
helpless.”
“Believe me, I know.”
Derian heard the pain creeping into Emily’s
voice and cursed herself inwardly. She wasn’t the only one suffering. “And this
has to be terrible for you. I’m sorry, it’s not very sensitive of me to want to
keep you here.”
“I want to be here for Henrietta,” Emily
said, adding softly, “and if it’s helping you, I’m glad.”
“It helps more than you know,” Derian
murmured, “but I’m feeling pretty damn selfish right now. This has to be
bringing back some terrible memories for you.”
“I’m all right, really. Please don’t worry
about me.”
“I know you’re all right. You’ve convinced me
you’re tough,” she teased gently and felt rewarded when Emily laughed, “but I believe
I’ll worry about you all the same.”
“Just not too much,” Emily chided, touched by
Derian’s tender tone and surprised by how readily she could accept comfort from
Derian when she rarely could from anyone else. Derian’s sympathy and
understanding strengthened her, rather than making her feel small and
diminished. She’d worked so hard to be neither. She rose, and in an impulsive
reversal, took Derian’s arm and tugged her toward the hall. “Come on, let’s get
outside for a little while.”
Gratefully, Derian let herself be guided to
the elevators. Giving up control didn’t come naturally, but with Emily it was
easy. The tightrope she’d been teetering on since she’d gotten the phone call
from the surgeon gave way to solid ground for the first time all day. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Emily said. “If you need
anything, anytime, just let me know.”