“Except I’m worried about not knowing what’s going on.”
My father sighed. “It’s a mess.”
“What is?” Did the group of people rush the hospital and get Nick? “Is it Nick? Is he okay?” I moved to get out of bed. I’d search every room in the hospital to find him if I had to.
“Nick is fine, honey. Lay down and I’ll tell you. But you have to promise to rest.”
I nodded. “Yes. Okay, just tell me what’s going on.”
“Nick quit.”
“What?”
“When we arrived after getting the call that you’d been hurt, Nick accosted Eli, blaming him.”
“I don’t understand?”
My father shook his head. “I’m not sure either. Something about the mob calling him a quack and blaming him for your mother’s death.”
“Eli does that,” I said as I remembered the crowd saying the same thing to me. I’d even wondered if Eli had something to do with this protest.
My father lowered his head, as I guess he knew it too.
“What happened then?”
“When someone from the hospital administration showed up
, I guess Nick thought he was going to be fired because he said ‘don’t bother, I quit.’”
I closed my eyes, my heart hurting that Nick had to go through all this.
“Peggy seems to think he’s in love with you,” my father said. “Is that true?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“What about you? Do you love him?”
I pulled my dad’s hand to hold it over my heart. “I can’t. I’ll get fired.”
He frowned. “For loving someone?”
I nodded. “I’m considered hospital administration, and we’re not to fraternize with other staff.”
“Seems harsh in a small town where prospects are few as it is.”
I smiled at him. “You’re still worried about grandkids.”
His smile was so sweet. “I’d like one or two. Maybe three.”
The door opened the Eli came in. “How are you?”
I couldn’t read his expression very well. I think he was trying to be a good big brother, but he seemed agitated.
“I’m okay.” I wanted to go soft on him, except if Nick was right, Eli’s careless accusations had gotten me hurt.
“This isn’t my fault,” he said.
Nothing ever is, I thought but kept to myself.