PhoebeIt was strange and yet familiar to be back at Berkshire. I’d been there many times before, but never wearing designer clothes from Europe, with a tan I’d acquired on the Riviera. As I passed a visitor leaving, I recognized the name of her designer, recent knowledge I’d picked up in Paris when Damon arranged for me to have a private fashion showing of that designer’s current line. She nodded to me in recognition, though I doubted she’d have given me even a cursory glance before my makeover.It was unsettling to somehow be deemed more worthy wearing expensive clothes. I realized I carried myself differently too as I caught sight of myself in one of the mirrored walls when I entered the facility. I had a new confidence and easier way of walking. The weight of the world didn’t feel like it was pressing down on me so much now.I signed in and went straight to Tabitha’s room, but it was empty. I felt a moment of panic before remembering Damon had arranged for her to transfer to a nic
Chapter Twenty-ThreePhoebeI truly appreciated Damon’s wealth and power, and willingness to use it when necessary. Things happened quickly after he arrived at Berkshire. A private ambulance drew up not ten minutes past him, and I helped get Tabitha inside, riding with her. Damon hadn’t wasted any time, securing Tabitha a same-day appointment with one of the top neurologists in the country. Fortunately, Dr. Hines was a friend of his, and she was in our city.I sat with Tabitha in the ambulance and now in the office, holding her hand as she continued to seize off and on. I was so afraid it was too late, and I was angry with Mr. Casey for not telling me. I was also angry with myself for taking the time I had. I should have been here for her.I looked up when the door opened, but it was Damon, not the neurologist. I managed a wan smile, but I was too consumed with fear and self-loathing to give him the appreciation he truly deserved.He came to sit beside me, spending a moment introducin
DamonIt was late before I got Phoebe home that night. We’d waited until Tabitha was cleared by Dr. Hines to return to Berkshire. The ambulance I’d arranged had taken her back, and she’d been settled with a contracted private attendant who would monitor only her for the next few days. That had allowed Phoebe to finally leave Tabitha once her sister was cozy in her own bed, snuggling a toy cat she hugged like her life depended on it, and quickly drifted off to sleep, since she was still recovering from the anesthesia.Phoebe was looking tired too, so I settled her into bed before slipping away to deal with some of the business I’d dropped so hastily that morning. The information Danny had compiled was on my desk, but I couldn’t focus on it.Instead, I thought about Phoebe, who had been convinced she’d been selfish for taking some down time. Had we been? I didn’t know, but I didn’t think she could live her whole life in proximity to her sister for immediate emergency responses. If Carey
Chapter Twenty-FivePhoebeTwo days later, I came back to the apartment late in the afternoon, having been out running a couple of errands and visiting with Tabitha. The personal nurse Damon had hired gave me a thorough accounting of practically every minute of Tabitha’s days. She might even be too efficient, but it was quickly obvious from her intricate tracking that Tabitha’s seizures had already reduced significantly. It could be a few more weeks before the VNS was at maximum efficiency, but it was definitely working.I could tell that for myself during the two hours I’d spent with her. During that time, she’d only had one short myoclonic seizure, and there had also been a possible absence seizure. That was better than before the VNS insertion.When I’d left for the day, Tabitha had looked me in the eye for just a brief second and said, “Bye.” It wasn’t much to a lot of people, but it meant the world to me. I still got teary-eyed just thinking about it. Of course, I was overly emot
Chapter OnePhoebe“Please don’t do this.” I dashed the tears from my eyes and pleaded with the man holding a knife in front of me. “I have to pay my sister’s facility, or they’ll kick her out. The state facilities...” I trailed off, realizing he didn’t care.His red eyes didn’t even blink. He seemed high on something, and it was clear I couldn’t get a spark of empathy from him.He didn’t care that my disabled sister was thriving in the privately run facility, and I was solely responsible for covering what the meager benefits she received didn’t. The few thousand dollars in my purse, accumulating because of late nights and not making it to the bank before working again the next day, would just be a drug spree to him, while they would ensure my sister another month in her home.Tears welled again as I thought about how hard I’d worked for that money. I’d stripped and danced for hours, letting men paw my young body in what they thought were discreet ways, because I had no choice. He cou
Chapter TwoPhoebeI felt like a train had hit me. I guessed that wasn’t too far off the mark, and it wasn’t pleasant. My head throbbed, my ribs ached, and my back was one long strip of pain all down my spine. At least the emergency room doctor had given me the good stuff, so I was only in half as much agony as I would have been otherwise.I didn’t have a clear memory of much of what had happened. I blinked and looked at the nurse standing over me after they settled me in a hospital room. “How did I get here?” Someone in the ER had told me an accident, but the details were sketchy.“You were hit by a car. You stepped out in front of poor Mr. Santos and gave him a heart attack.” The young woman frowned down at me severely, as though I’d deliberately tried to frighten the man who’d hit me with his car.I assumed a car anyway. If he’d really hit me with a train, I probably wouldn’t have woken up at all. A flash of red came to mind, and I was sure I’d seen a galloping horse on the hood. M
Chapter ThreeDamonI wasn’t sure what brought me back, other than the inability to walk away. I had reached the lobby before realizing I wasn’t leaving. No punky little doctor was going to throw me out. If Phoebe wanted me to leave her alone, I would, but I’d be sitting in the waiting room.I knew that wasn’t a normal reaction. She’d seemed hesitant around me, and I’d accused her of fraud. It hadn’t been my finest moment, and I was ashamed of it. I couldn’t deny I was still wary though. A lot of people had tried to get money from me over the years either via sympathy or more ambiguous means. I shouldn’t assume everyone was after my money though.Maybe I went back to apologize. Maybe, though I’d be the first to admit that wasn’t my strong suit. I was almost to her room when that young doctor came bursting out, clearly annoyed. He glared at me for a long moment, shook his head, and said, “Maybe you’ll have more luck.”I frowned, wanting to ask what he meant, but he was already gone. Pe
PhoebeI shouldn’t have been so surprised that he lived in a veritable mansion after seeing his car—the same one that struck me—but I had to struggle not to gape like a moron. I’d seen things like this on TV, but never in real life. A lot of the furnishings were like what people I knew bought, but I bet the rug in the foyer wasn’t fifteen dollars from the used shop like mine was.“Let me show you to a room, Phoebe.”I grunted. I was still annoyed at the way he’d taken over, and how he and Dr. Kormin had maneuvered me into this situation. I didn’t want to submit to anyone’s highhandedness, but I was tired, and I could spare a few hours to sleep before having to get to Berkshire in the morning.I followed him up a grand circular staircase. I discreetly tapped my heel against one of the steps, deciding it was probably real white marble. I didn’t know for sure though. It wasn’t like my education had included such details. “Where are you planning to dump me now that you’ve dragged me home?