Chapter 62
Chapter 62:
June hesitated. Then she got in.
The car interior smelled of leather and him — a scent that used to mean safety. Now it meant something else entirely.
“Congratulations,” Cole said as the car pulled away. “You won p>
June kept her eyes on the window. “I didn’t win, Cole. I just survived p>
The elevator doors at New York Presbyterian opened with a soft chime.
Cole and June stepped out, maintaining a careful two feet of distance between them.
They heard it before they even reached the VIP suite.
“Oh, Eleanor, you simply must try this kale juice! Alycia swears by it for detox p>
Susan Beasley’s voice. Shrill. Grating.
𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘯
June stopped. “You brought them p>
Cole looked genuinely confused. “I didn’t tell them anything p>
They pushed open the door to Room 402.
It was a circus.
Eleanor Compton, the matriarch of the dynasty, looked small and gray against the hospital bed — but her eyes were wide with irritation. Susan Beasley was perched on the foot of the mattress. Richard was picking grapes from the patient’s fruit basket. Alycia was arranging flowers directly in front of the monitors.
“June!” Eleanor gasped when she saw them. “Thank God p>
Alycia spun around. When she spotted June and Cole together, her smile faltered.
“Oh,” she said, her voice dripping with manufactured sweetness. “We didn’t know you were bringing company. We were just keeping Grandma company p>
June didn’t spare her a glance. She walked straight to the bedside monitor and checked the heart rate. 110. Too high.
“Get out,” June said.
Susan dropped a grape. “Excuse me p>
“You heard me.” June turned around, her voice calm and authoritative — the voice of a doctor. “Her heart rate is elevated. This is a sterile environment, not a picnic spot. Out p>
“Who do you think you are?” Richard rose to his feet, puffing out his chest. “We are family. Cole invited us p>
June looked at Cole.
Cole looked at his grandmother. He saw the distress in her eyes. He saw the way she was reaching for June’s hand.
“I didn’t invite you,” Cole said quietly.
“But Cole!” Alycia wailed, slipping instantly into the role of wounded victim. “We just wanted to pray for her p>
“Pray outside,” June said. “Susan, your perfume is triggering her asthma. Richard, put the grapes down. All of you — leave. Now p>
“Cole!” Susan shrieked. “Are you going to let this woman talk to us like that p>
Cole felt a headache cleave through his skull. He looked at June — fierce, immovable, shielding Eleanor like a lioness over her own. And he realized, with a pang of shame, that she was the only person in the room who actually cared about Eleanor’s health rather than her bank account.
“Everyone out,” Cole said.
“Cole?” Alycia whispered, tears materializing with impressive speed.
“You heard her,” Cole said, his voice harder now. “Grandmother needs rest. Wait in the hall p>
The Beasleys stared in disbelief, then gathered their things and shuffled out, shooting venomous looks at June as they went.