“I’m afraid we really do have to go now,” he said to Stephanie. “My apologies for being rude, but this is urgent and we need to get back upstairs.”
“Yeah. No. Of course.” Stephanie shook her head. “Sorry. I just thought maybe I could avoid a trip home, but it sounds like I need to clock out.”
Before Audrey could say another word, Duke ushered her out the door.
“Thank you,” she said out of the corner of her mouth once they were inside the elevator.
“You’re welcome,” he said as they rode up the lift.
Heart pounding inside her chest as the doors opened, she wasn’t sure if she should breathe a sigh of relief when the nurses’ station was full of nurses again. She scanned their faces. No one came across as distressed. Was that a good sign? Or were they too used to losing patients? So much so, it had become almost routine? Although, she knew deep down the loss of life would never be routine. Not for law enforcement officers and not for nurses or doctors. They all developed their own unique coping mechanisms, but losing someone on their watch would always be personal.
“My grandmother,” Duke said to the first nurse they came across. Audrey reached for his hand, and he immediately linked their fingers and gave a little squeeze.
“Lacy Remington,” the nurse said. “Is that who you’re referring to?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he confirmed.
“As you already might know, she went into cardiac arrest,” the nurse said with compassion. “The team was able to revive her, and her heart is beating just fine now on its own.” She gave them a warning look not to get too excited. “Her case is still very much touch-and-go, but she won this battle.”
Audrey didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath. She released a slow exhale at the news of Gram Lacy’s condition. It was enough to provide hope for a meaningful recovery. Both of the Remington grandparents needed to get better soon.
“I have to ask a question,” Duke began, and she knew exactly where he was about to go.
The nurse gave him a tentative nod.
“My grandparents have been together for most of their lives. Seeing them in separate rooms doesn’t seem right,” he explained.
Duke had a way with people. Audrey would bank on the fact the nurse wouldn’t still be listening if Audrey was the one doing the speaking. He put people at ease. In fact, the nurse was leaning toward him. It didn’t take a body language expert to figure out she was really listening to him.
“I have no doubt in my mind they would do better if they were together in the same room,” he said. “Hell, push their beds as close together as they’ll go. I promise you both of them will improve. It’ll give them a fighting chance.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head as her face twisted in regret. “Hospital policy.”
She wore the standard issue blue scrubs—a color that said she meant business. Audrey appreciated having a serious nurse look after the people she cared most about. Could he convince the woman to put his grandparents in the same room against hospital policy was the question.
“As much as I’d like to help, we can’t make special arrangements—”
Duke glanced down at the name on the ID badge sewn above her pocket. “Arlene,” he started, catching her gaze, “doesn’t it make sense to do what’s right for each individual case? I can see in your eyes that you care about your work more than most.”
She nodded and made a face that said she agreed with that statement more than anyone could realize.
Duke Remington was a smooth talker. His natural good looks and easy-going charm were addictive.
“I know you want to help my grandparents, Arlene,” he continued in the easy way he had with people.
Arlene stood there for a long moment, almost transfixed as she stared into his eyes. Then came, “I’ll call the floor supervisor.”
Chapter Eight
Duke argued his case to the floor supervisor, a nurse by the name of Jenn. Jenn didn’t look ready to budge on the issue.
Audrey, who had been quiet up to now, intervened. “Hi, Jenn. Look, I’m going to be honest with you here. This family is very important to me and the rest of the community. Do you know the Remingtons personally?”
Jenn nodded. “We don’t have Sunday supper together if that’s what you’re asking, but I run into Lacy Remington at the grocery from time to time.”
“Sweet people, aren’t they?” Audrey continued.
“As a matter of fact, yes, they’re the best,” Jenn agreed. Her stance softened. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Jenn disappeared down the hall before returning a few moments later. “We can make an exception this time.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Duke stated.
“Don’t mention it,” Jenn said as she stared at Lacy and Lorenzo’s rooms. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen two people more in love than your grandparents.” She shook her head and blinked a couple of times. Duke glanced over at Jenn’s ring finger and saw a tan line where a gold band was at one time. He didn’t know if it was divorce or death, but Jenn had lost her husband in one form or another.
“They had...have something real special,” Duke agreed.
Jenn sniffed and then coughed. “I’ll see to it these two are moved into the same room before I leave the floor.”
Now that his grandparents’ situation was settled, Duke could turn his attention to taking Audrey to the Napiers’ house. Stephanie Napier would have had plenty of time to get home and receive the news about her son by now. Audrey had laid the groundwork for their visit in the cafeteria. All that was left was for them to stop by her home and see if they could find some answers as to what Jenson was doing hiding in the woods, watching Audrey’s place.
The teen was probably doing what they believed, peeping, but Audrey would sleep better at night if she had her questions answered. And, honestly, Duke wanted a few answers, as well.
The sheriff’s text, as he’d promised, confirmed he’d delivered the news.
“We should probably head over to the Napier home,” he suggested, hating that he was the one to remove the smile from Audrey’s lips. They were in the shape of Cupid’s bow, he noticed, and he burned with the memory of how they felt moving against his. “I just got word from the sheriff that they’re finishing up.”
It was probably all this focus on true love that was softening his heart—a heart that Audrey had shattered a long time ago. Even though they’d been together for hours now, he still had no idea why she’d left or where she’d gone.
