People who had avoided eye contact earlier now openly watched me.
Nina stood.
“She’s in there.”
I looked toward the glass conference room.
The woman from Route 18 was standing beside the table.
She looked completely different.
Her silver hair was neatly brushed.
The hospital blanket was gone.
Her posture was straight.
Controlled.
Beside her sat two men in suits and a woman with a leather folder.
Gavin stood across from them.
He looked pale.
Then the woman saw me.
Her face changed.
She immediately walked toward the door.
When it opened, she crossed the office and came straight to me.
“Christopher?”
“Yes.”
She reached for both of my hands.
“You came back.”
“I heard you were asking for me.”
Her eyes filled.
“I didn’t know your last name.”
“Bennett.”
“Christopher Bennett.”
She repeated it slowly, almost as if she wanted to remember it.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
