“Eleanor is staying here,” Arthur replied.
“Daddy, be reasonable. She barely knows where she is anymore. And when you’re gone…”
“She knows exactly where she is, Vivien. She understands much more than you think.”
One afternoon, Vivien saw me on the doorstep with Eleanor’s tea tray.
“And who’s this?”
“Eleanor’s caregiver,” Arthur answered. “She’s been with us for a month.”
“Hmm.”
Her gaze slowly scanned my body, like a cat studying something it might attack.
“How lovely.”
Weeks later, the hospital called while I was reading to Eleanor. I asked permission and went out into the hallway.
My hands were trembling before I even answered.
“Ma’am, we need Noah to come back this afternoon for some updated tests and analyses.”
“Yes,” I said quickly. “Yes, we’ll be there.”
As I hung up, I rested my forehead against the fresh wallpaper and tried to catch my breath.
When I turned around, Arthur was at the end of the hall, in his gown, leaning on his cane, looking at me intently.
“Who’s calling and making your hands shake like that?” he asked quietly.
Then I realized that, while I watched his children fight over his fortune, Arthur had been watching me far more than I knew.
“The hospital,” I admitted. “My son needs heart surgery. Urgently.”
“Oh.” Arthur’s expression softened. “I’m sorry.” He tapped his chest gently. “My heart is failing too. I’ll need someone to take care of me soon.”
“I’m sorry, sir.” If there’s anything I can do…
“Arthur,” he corrected me gently. “Call me Arthur.”
The next morning, the hospital called again.
“Ma’am, Noah’s latest tests have worsened. We need to move up the surgery and start pre-operative treatment immediately. Can you confirm payment by Friday?”
I gripped the phone so tightly my fingers ached.
“Friday? I need more time.”
But there was no time left.
I hung up and collapsed onto the marble floor of Arthur’s hallway. Ten minutes later, he found me there, his cane tapping softly on the tiles.
“What happened?” he asked.
“My son,” I whispered. “They’ve moved up the surgery. I can’t afford it. I never will.”
He remained silent for a long time.
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