Forgotten Father by Carol Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

neck, the confidence and efficiency in her
bearing would have proclaimed her calling.
    Struggling against the lethargic, cob-webby feeling
in her mind, Delanie smiled at the nurse. “…hello.”
    The woman stopped, blinking at her in surprise.
“Well, good morning to you! How are you feeling this morning?”
    Putting a hand to her neck, Delanie said, “Stiff and
groggy….”
    The nurse came forward, clasping Delanie’s wrist
between three fingers as she checked her pulse.
    It wasn’t till then that Delanie noticed the I.V. in
her own arm, the plastic tubing taped in place.
    “Any pain or discomfort? Nausea?” the other woman
asked.
    Delanie shook her head slowly and then stretched out
her free arm. “My wrist aches a little. Other than that, I think
I’m fine.”
    Replacing Delanie’s hand on the bed covers, the
nurse said, “Probably a sprain, but we’ll leave it to the doctor to
confirm that.”
    Frowning, Delanie fought to clear the mists in her
head. “Why…am I here?”
    The nurse shot her a piercing look and, after a
pause, said. “Let me crank up the head of your bed for you so you
can sit up a little, then I’ll get Dr. Gallagher to talk with you.
He’s at the nurses’ station.”
    Watching the woman leave the room a moment later,
Delanie let her eyes drift across to the windows while wrestling to
gather her wits. Glancing down at herself, she could see no obvious
injury, no broken bone or bandage other than a cartoon-decorated
Band-Aid where someone had apparently drawn blood from her arm.
    Why was she here? She couldn’t think…,
couldn’t make sense of it.
    In a matter of minutes, the hospital room door
opened again and an attractive, prematurely-balding man who looked
to be in his late thirties, walked in.
    “Good morning,” he said with a smile. “How are you
feeling today?”
    “I think I’m okay,” she said slowly, a frightened,
frustrated panic starting to flutter in her midsection. “Why am I
here?”
    “First, let me introduce myself,” he said, sending
her another version of the nurse’s probing look. “I’m Dr. Larry
Gallagher. I’ve been managing your case since you arrived
here.”
    “Where is here?” Delanie asked, more sharply than
she’d intended.
    “Conway Community Hospital,” he answered promptly,
still standing beside the bed looking at her with that
faintly-troubled expression.
    “Conway?” she echoed without recognition, struggling
against the sense of déjà vu .
    “Conway, New Hampshire.”
    “I don’t know—“ Delanie started, her panic leaking
into the words.
    “Shhh,” Dr. Gallagher said, patting her hand. “Let’s
take this slow. Why don’t I ask you a few questions first?”
    “Okay,” she agreed, calmed somewhat by his
comforting manner.
    “What’s your name?”
    “Delanie Carlyle.”
    “Age?”
    “Twenty-seven.” Her heart rate slowed a little with
the sensation of being on solid ground.
    “Good,” he said encouragingly. “Where do you
live?”
    “In Boston,” she replied. “I’m an interior designer
there.”
    “Wonderful,” he said, as if she’d performed some
tremendous feat. “Now, have you been vacationing in New Hampshire
recently?”
    “No,” Delanie said, wanting to laugh with relief.
She did remember. She hadn’t lost her mind. “Actually, I’ve been
working on a big job here. I’m part of the crew renovating The
Cedars.”
    “Oh!” Dr. Gallagher smiled, the worried look
clearing from his eyes. “Of course.”
    She put a hand to her head, laughing ruefully. “I’ve
really got to get back there. I’m expecting some installers to come
hang the drapes in the main lobby. We’re set to open next month, on
the first of May, and I have a ton of things to do.”
    Larry Gallagher’s smile faded. Turning away from the
bed, he dragged the vinyl armchair closer and sat down next to the
bed.
    “Delanie, do you know today’s date?”
    She frowned at him. “I’m a little fuzzy and I don’t
know how long