The Road To Heaven (Allendale Four 3)

The woman at the desk pointed me in the right direction and I found myself searching the hallway for his room. Turns out, Hayden was in a small private section of the hospital with a doorway blocking the rooms. A small waiting room filled the outer space. I didn’t recognize anyone in the room until the door opened and I saw the shock of blonde hair and the clothes from the sidelines on the TV the night before. A handsome man about a decade older than me spoke on a cell phone in the corner. He glanced at me absently and continued to talk.

“Hi,” I said, approaching Sabine. “I’m looking for Hayden Pierce. You’re friends with him, right?”

She looked me up and down and I had the distinct feeling she recognized me. “Hayden’s not allowed to see visitors right now.”

“You were just in there.”

“I’m his physical therapist and...” I raised my eyebrows, daring her to say more. “And the doctors have insisted he needs rest right now.”

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

She frowned. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“I’m a friend of Hayden’s. An old friend. I came when I heard he was here.”

She eyed my suitcase and my wrinkled travel clothes. She opened her mouth to speak but the man walked over and cut her off. “Did you say you were a friend of Hayden’s?”

“Yes. I’m Heaven. A friend of his from back home.”

He offered me his hand. “I’m Bryant Gibson, Hayden’s agent.”

“Oh, hi, nice to meet you,” I said, taking in the expensive suit and watch. His hair was perfectly done, his face smooth without a single wrinkle or mar. I glanced at the door. “How is he? Any news?”

“I’m sorry you traveled all this way,” Sabine said coldly, “but news about Hayden’s condition is private and we can’t share that with anyone outside his family or medical team.”

“Okay,” I said slowly, trying not to misinterpret the vibe.

Before I could add anything, she said, “And you definitely can’t see him tonight.”

I was about to argue when another voice interrupted us from the doorway leading to the private room.

“Let her in.”

A voice that sounded like a salve to every frayed and exposed wound that I had. I swallowed and turned, knees quaking.

“I really don’t think that’s appropriate and I don’t think you have the authority to make that decision—” Sabine argued.

I stared into those green eyes. Eyes I hadn’t seen up close in so long that I thought maybe I’d imagined their intensity. Nope, real.

“She’s family,” Anderson declared, extending a long arm.

“Family?” Sabine swallowed back a cough and I walked forward, taking care not to touch him as I passed.

“Yes. Family.” He looked at me expectantly.

“It’s fine, Sabine,” Bryant said, laying a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you,” I whispered, walking away from both of these people that seemed to know more about Hayden than I did. I da

red a look back at the cold anger on Sabine’s face. I had no doubt she knew exactly who I was.

11

Heaven

I wasn’t ready.

For his voice.