As he pulled up outside the hospital gates, James immediately dialed Clara's number.
Clara had just finished dinner with her longtime crush Anthony and returned alone to the hospital room. Her mother's condition remained stable though still unconscious.
Preparing to wash up for bed, she jumped when her phone vibrated insistently against the nightstand.
James' name flashed on the screen.
She frowned, steeling herself—the ink was barely dry on their divorce agreement. From now on, he was just another face in the crowd. Nothing more.
Taking a steadying breath, she answered.
"I'm at the entrance. Come out." James' whiskey-rough voice growled through the receiver.
"You're drunk?" Clara instantly caught the dangerous edge beneath his words.
"We need to talk. Now." The line died before sh
