Second Chances(77)

Nathan noticed her breathing had gone shallow and her knuckles were white. He followed her gaze to the huge grey granite building. While he wouldn't say the building looked out of place, there was no question that this was not a converted manor. The building was all granite and glass. He looked from Paige to the building and then back again.

"Paige?"

She released the steering wheel and with a trembling hand, killed the engine.

"What is it?"

She didn't trust herself to say anything, but reached into her purse and pulled out the photo she'd obtained back in San Diego and handed it to him.

He studied the doctored picture once more and was about to ask what it meant when he finally stopped looking at the people in the picture and instead at the background. The building in the picture was the one they were currently looking at. He studied the picture again, matching it with what was before him. It was an exact match, except for one thing.

"Where is the tree?" He looked at the picture once more, then back at the campus. The massive weeping beech tree from the photo was no where to be seen.

Paige shrugged. "It should be right there," she said pointing slightly to the right.

Nathan opened the door and stepped out. He began to walk towards where the tree should have been, but stopped and looked back. Paige was still sitting in the car, her hands back in a death grip on the steering wheel. He walked back and opened her door and hunched down next to her.

"Come on, Paige. We both figured that this would be the best place to find some answers. We can't stop now."

"I'm scared." Her voice was barely a whisper.

He reached out and lightly gripped her chin with his thumb and index finger and turned her head to face his. The joy that had danced in her eyes only minutes ago was gone, in its place now was fear.

"I know you are. So am I, but I am not going to let anything happen to you. That is a promise."

She said nothing, but reluctantly allowed Nathan to help her out of the car.

They didn't take the stone walkway, but went right over the grass to where Nathan guessed the tree should have been according to the picture. He didn't know what he expected. Maybe a giant gaping hole or freshly dug ground perhaps, but there was nothing. It looked no different from the rest of the area around them.

"It was here. I swear. I remember that tree. We had study sessions and did homework out here all the time. You have to believe me."

"I do. I really do. What is this place?"

She looked at the building before them. "It's the library."

"Okay, sounds like as good a place as any to start."

"Ar...are you sure?"

He reached out his hand to her and reluctantly she took it. He squeezed it and gave her a gentle tug, then together they headed for the entrance. With each step, she gripped his hand tighter.





CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN



Julie parked in front of the building and turned off the engine. She sat in the car for a moment. She could feel her heart hammering. She needed to calm down. She looked at herself in the rearview mirror.

"You can do this," she said to her reflection. "He's in there waiting for you."

She hoped that was true. The truth was she had no clue what awaited her inside. She took another moment, silently praying, and then got out of the car. She double checked to make sure all the doors were unlocked and then headed up the ramp to the front door.

She let out a sigh of relief when she saw him. She didn't realize until just then how much she feared she might have caused some irreparable harm to him. The darker part of her mind reminded her that she still didn't know that she hadn't. He was seated at the far end of the room looking out the window. Sarah was setting a tray table before him. She was glad to see she had timed things so well, it looked like she was just getting him ready for lunch.

She saw a few other residents and their caregivers moving through the room. Doris Flanders was again at the front desk, she waved and smiled at her. Julie returned the wave but hurried over to Jason, trying to control her pace as best she could.

"Sarah, hello. How is Jason this morning?"

Sarah let out a startled little yelp and turned to see Julie approaching,

"Oh, sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

She waved a dismissive hand and laughed. "That's okay, just didn't hear you coming up behind me. Look, Jason, Julie is here to see you again."

He continued to stare out the window.

"How is he doing today?"

Sarah sighed and continued to set up the dining tray table. "Honestly I think he is a little stiffer. Paula also said she heard him coughing last night. We did a chest x-ray first thing this morning, but it's clear. Lungs sound fine. I really think the weather change is just hitting him hard."