I reach into my purse to grab my phone to ask Gabby if we're still on later today. She usually texts me before lunchtime. But as I dig in, I don't find it. Where could it be?
A knock sounds on the door and I holler a "come in", knowing it's the doctors or nurses–though they don't really wait for confirmation–while I'm still searching for the device in my bag. The hell? Did I leave it at his place? I'm sure I had it with me when we left.
"Lia."
I look up to see Giovanni at the threshold, my phone in his raised hand, and a gentle smile on his face. "You forgot your phone in the car."
My mom slowly looks up at his frame, her mouth hanging open as she checks him out. She's still sitting up, picking on the grapes I prepared for her, her hand unmoving. "Who?" she asks me, but her eyes are still on him.
Shit! No!
Why?
Oh, God.
