[22]

Steven stepped out of the room, her words battering his soul like a canoe caught in a hurricane. Betrayal is a hard thing to get past. She’d spoken those words in reference to her grandfather and Hugh, but she might have been talking about him. He felt betrayed by the people who were supposed to be the most trustworthy, the ones who would fight for justice for Michael, not let his killer go.

With these thoughts in mind, by the time Haley had finished speaking, he’d felt bruised and raw. He battled with the hate he’d yet to let go of for the man who’d killed his brother, and wished he was as strong as Haley.

On impulse, he called his mother. He’d ask her what she thought she was doing, demand she stop visiting that man in prison, and leave well enough alone. Her phone went to voice mail and he left her a message to call him when she could. The door opened and he turned. Haley walked out and let the door shut behind her.

“What next?” he asked.

“I want to go see Belinda and Micah. Then I need to decide if I’m going on the trip on Friday.” She rubbed a hand across her face and the fatigue etched there struck him.

“Come here.”

“What?”

He grasped her upper arm and pulled her to him in a hug. She held herself tense against him for a moment. He raised his hands to her shoulders to massage them and the tension slowly lessened. She rested her head on his chest for another long moment, then drew in a deep breath. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Are you ready to see Belinda?”

She lifted her head and met his gaze. He wished he knew what she was thinking, but her eyes were shuttered, her thoughts her own. “I think so.”

“All right then, come on.”

She stepped away from him. Reluctantly, he thought. He instantly missed the feel of her in his arms and vowed it wouldn’t be the last time he held her.

Christina stepped up next to them and Steven felt his face flush. He supposed she’d witnessed that moment. Then he decided he didn’t care.

Together, the three of them walked down the hall to the elevator and made their way to Belinda’s room. The nurse was just leaving, shutting the door behind her.

“How is she?” Haley asked.

“She’s holding her own. She’s awake, but very weak.”

“Is it all right if we speak to her?”

She hesitated. “I think so. Just don’t stay long.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll stay out here,” Christina said.

“Thanks.”

Steven held the door for Haley and she slipped past him and into the room. She walked to the bed and looked down at the woman who’d sacrificed herself so Richie wouldn’t kill an innocent person. Or people. Zeke and Laila were nowhere to be found. Steven assumed Laila had taken him down to the cafeteria or to get some air.

Haley took Belinda’s hand in hers and the woman’s eyes flickered open.

“Hi,” Haley said.

“Hi,” Belinda whispered.

Steven hung back. The two women had bonded over Belinda’s children, and he was just in the way at the moment.

“I hear you’re going to be okay,” Haley said.

“Yeah, that’s what they tell me. How are my boys?”

“They’re fine for now.”

“Micah? He’s still . . .”

“Yeah. He is.”

Belinda drew in a breath and grimaced. “Hurts to breathe.”

Haley frowned. “Let me get a doctor.”

“No. Not yet.” She swallowed and closed her eyes.

Steven slipped out the door and located a nurse. “Belinda’s in pain. Can you do something for her?”

The young man nodded. “Let me check her chart and see what she’s ordered.”

“Thanks.”

Haley leaned in and stared at the wounded woman. “What did you say?”

“I want you to take my boys. If I die.”

“You’re not going to die.” Haley ran a shaky hand over her ponytail. She wasn’t sure she could promise to do as Belinda had requested. “You just need some time to heal.”

Belinda closed her eyes and a tear leaked down her cheek. “Haley, you’re a good woman. I can’t think of anyone who would have bought Micah’s medicine for him. But you did.” She squeezed Haley’s hand—or Haley thought she tried to. Her strength was fading.

“Just rest now, Belinda. I promised not to tire you out.”

“No.” She opened her eyes. “I need to know someone’s watching out for them.”

Haley hesitated. “What about your family?”

She shook her head, restless and agitated. “No. Parents are dead. One brother who’s a drug addict. There’s no one. Promise me you’ll take care of them.”

Haley squeezed her hand. “That’s a promise I can make. I will definitely make sure they’re taken care of. But you’re going to be fine.”

They sat in silence for a few moments with Haley still holding her hand. “I believe in God, you know,” Belinda said, “and Jesus. I believe what the Bible says.”

“I do too.”

“I haven’t been very good at living it, but I’ve asked his forgiveness for everything I’ve done wrong.”

“Then you’re forgiven.”

She coughed and grimaced. “By his grace, yes, I believe it. My mother always said that being poor is no excuse for being dumb. I’ve been dumb.” She drew in a labored breath and Haley frowned in concern.

Haley rose. “Let me get the doctor.”

“In a minute.” Another harsh breath. “My purse. There’s an envelope. Get it.”

“Now?”

“Yes, please.”

Haley moved to do as she asked, but pressed the call button to bring medical personnel. She didn’t like the way Belinda looked or sounded. Haley rummaged through the old brown bag and found a crisp new envelope. She held it up. “This?”

“Yes. I just wish I could do everything all over.”

“We all have regrets, Belinda. I don’t know anyone who goes through life without them. It’s part of being human.”

“Maybe so. But I have one thing left that I can do. I love my sons very much. I would have given up long before now if I didn’t have them. I love them so much.” She fell silent again as though she needed the break to regain her strength.

“I can tell, so no talk of giving up, okay? They love you very much too, and they need you.”

Belinda’s eyes remained closed and Haley wondered if she’d fallen asleep. The heart monitor blipped consistently, but her oxygen levels seemed to be dropping. Haley started to rise to get the doctor, as she uttered a prayer for her new friend.

Steven stepped back into the room and caught her eye. “The nurse is checking with the doc.”

“Good, I called for someone as well.”

Almost before she finished her sentence the door opened again and the doctor, followed by the nurse, entered. Belinda lay still and pale. Haley stood to get out of the way, but Belinda’s hand tightened around hers.

“The doctor is here to check you out,” Haley told her. “I’m just going to step outside.”

Her eyes opened and locked on Haley’s. “Give him my heart,” she wheezed.

Haley froze and looked at Steven, then the doctor to make sure she’d heard right. “What did you say?”

“Make them. Give Micah. My heart.” Her eyes closed and her grip loosened.

The doctor shoved Haley out of the way and she stumbled back into Steven’s arms. “Belinda?”

“Haley,” she rasped, her voice pained and breathless. “Promise me.”

The doctor’s orders flew past her ears, but she caught the words “blood clot in her lung.”

“I promise, Belinda. I promise.”

The woman’s eyes opened and locked onto Haley’s and then closed, her dark lashes fluttering against her cheeks.

Soon the room filled with medical personnel and Haley and Steven were ushered out into the hall.

Haley gripped Steven’s hand. “She can’t die.” Steven’s arms closed around her and she buried her face in his chest. “I promise,” she whispered. “I promise.”