There are no beds,” she said flatly.
“But we called ahead,” I pleaded. “We spoke with Dr. Vance. He said to admit her.”
The young nurse rolled her eyes. “Dr. Vance is a surgeon, he doesn’t know the situation on the floor. We’re completely full. I don’t care if you know
the Chief of Staff, it wouldn’t make a bed appear out of thin air.”
Tears of frustration pricked my eyes. I spotted an empty gurney in the hallway. “Can’t she just stay on this? We just need a place, any place. Plea-
se, miss, help us. My sister is bleeding out. Only Dr. Vance can save her.”
The nurse glanced at the still form on the gurney, then shrugged. “I’m just a staff nurse. I can’t authorize an overflow bed. You’ll have to talk to the
head nurse.” She gave a subtle nod toward the office down the hall.
I understood. I rushed over and pushed the door open.
The woman at the desk looked up, and I gasped in relief. “Helen!”
It was Helen Croft, one of my mother’s oldest colleagues and dearest friends. After Mom died, she’d visited us often.
Before she could speak, I grabbed her arm like a lifeline. “Helen, please, you have to help me get my sister admitted. She’s had a placental abrupt-
jon, she’s hemorrhaging. She needs surgery now.”
Chapter 1
15:07
But the woman I remembered as being so kind and gentle looked at me with a cold, unfamiliar expression. She pulled her arm away.
“Olivia, I can’t believe you’d bring this act all the way here. Take your sister and go home. Your father is a respected name in this hospital. This kind
of stunt is humiliating for him.”
Her words were a physical blow. My ears started ringing. “What are you talking about? My sister is feally sick. If you don’t believe me, just come
and look.”
I tried to pull her toward the door. If she just saw Kerry, she would understand.
