Bea lingered by the hospital doorway, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the voices had carried—soft, professional, yet tinged with worry.
“Is he alright, Doc?” she heard herself whisper inside, though no one had asked her.
The nurse’s voice floated out, calm but serious. “He needs rest and a change of dosage of his meds. And, of course, someone to watch him.”
Bea’s chest tightened. She swallowed hard, her mind racing. Someone to watch him… someone to be there. I could do that. I should do that.
His brother’s voice came next, soft, steady. “I’ll watch him. I’ll make sure he’s okay.”
Before she could stop herself, Bea interjected, almost reflexively. “But I can.”
There was a pause. Then Olivia’s gentle voice soothed the tension. “It’
