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“You don’t know how tough her life has been or how much she’s suffered either. You weren’t there for her for years,” he accused.
The woman flinched, her expression turned murderous. “Men. You’re all good for nothing. I’ll tell you how you’re going to make it right. You’re going to leave her alone.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Oh, yes you are, you’re going to stay out of her life and move on. Write her a big fat check and leave it at that.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I won’t have you visiting her in this hospital either.”
He stood, rage making his limbs shake. That this little old woman was trying to manipulate him and tell him what to do astounded him. “You have no control over who her visitors are.”
“You don’t think I can’t put you on some sort of blocked visitors list? Watch me.” She smiled smugly.
She was crazy, stark raving mad. And what the hell had he done to this woman to make her so damn angry? She’d been sweet out in the hall. The minute she had him in her room her tone had become venomous. Her words, foreboding.
“I think you’re still upset. Perhaps you need some time alone.” He started to back out of the room. He needed to talk with someone. But who would listen? He wasn’t a relative of Gracie’s and he wasn’t her husband. No one in this damn hospital was going to tell him jack shit.
“I don’t need any more time alone when it comes to you, mister. Now take your fancy butt on out of here and never come back.” She waved him away by flapping her hands. “Go on now, shoo. And leave my Gracie be. I’ll take care of her now.”
The moment he neared the doorway he turned and hurried out of there. Approaching the elevators, he decided to head back up to ICU. Find that nurse who’d escorted Grace Hayes earlier and see if she could help him.
He could only hope she would.
Chapter Sixteen
The doctor’s prognosis was warily optimistic. He didn’t know how to classify her unconsciousness and wanted to do more tests on her brain, but otherwise he was pleased to see that she had come around and that she was healing nicely. He gave the nurse pain medication recommendations, scheduled tests and proclaimed her ready to be shipped out of ICU first thing in the morning.
After he left, the nurse had dug up Gracie’s cell phone and went on the hunt for a charger since she’d left Manhattan with only her purse and the clothes on her back. It was easy enough to find, considering she had a popular phone, and within twenty minutes she had it charging away.
She’d fallen asleep contemplating the short list of people she wanted to call.
Dreams of Hunter followed. Set in the future, Gracie with a baby in her arms, Hunter looking proud. The three of them together, a cute little family in love, what she’d always believed was an unattainable dream felt in reach. She’d woken up with a smile on her face.
And a slightly hysterical grandmother in the same room as her.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Her shrill voice gave Gracie a headache, and she closed her eyes against the sound. “What are you talking about? And why are you here? It’s late and you’re not allowed in ICU.”
“I couldn’t stand being away from you, Gracie girl. I was worried. What is that plugged in over there?”
“Oh, it’s my cell phone.” Weird question, considering her grandma owned one. “A nurse found a charger for me. I need to make some phone calls.”
“To who?”
Gracie cracked her eyes open. Her grandma was being sort of weird. And really overprotective. Of course, maybe she was just worried after everything that had happened. “I need to call my friend Becky, first of all. She can help me get back home.”
“You’re not going home anytime soon, I hope you know.”
“Well, I know I’m stuck here at the hospital for the next few days, but after they release me, yes, I’m going back home. To Queens.”
“You are not. You’ll come back to my place. I want you to convalesce with me.” Grandma lifted her chin, as if she dared Gracie to defy her.
“I can’t do that, Grandma,” Gracie said softly. “They haven’t even released you from the hospital yet. Are you all right? Why are they keeping you here?”
She waved a hand, dismissing Gracie’s question. “I’m fine. They talk about some such nonsense of me needing an operation. Can’t they see I’m perfectly healthy?”
Gracie thought her grandmother looked frail, but she didn’t have the strength to argue. And who was she to say anything? She was sure she looked about as terrible as she felt. “You should listen to what your doctors have to say.”
“Whatever is wrong with me can wait. The heart attack was minor. An artery is clogged, but it’s not life-threatening yet. I have time.” She smiled at Gracie. “I need to concentrate on you. How are you feeling? What did the doctor say? Have you had any visitors?”
