Read Online Like a Charm by Candace Havens - Free Book Online Page A

admitting desk, and the waiting room was empty. “Is anyone here? Hello?”
    â€œJust a minute, please, I’ll be right there,” I heard a woman say.
    I didn’t have any patience. I wanted to get to Mrs. Canard as soon as possible. I pushed on the door separating the waiting room from the treatment area, but it was locked.
    â€œAugh,” I huffed.
    â€œI’m sorry, I was with a patient. Can I help you?” a soft female voice said from behind the desk.
    I moved so I could see her. She seemed familiar and then it dawned on me. “Margie?”
    She smiled. “Kira?”
    Reaching across the desk, she hugged me, and I squeezed her in return. Margie had been my one real friend in high school. The other kids weren’t exactly mean to me; it was more like they ignored me. She always had my back and made me feel like I belonged. I tried to do the same for her, though I was painfully shy and could never come up with the sardonic remarks she managed.
    â€œAre you okay?” She looked me up and down.
    â€œWhat? Oh, yes. I’m here to see Mrs. Canard. Sam called.”
    She pushed a button behind the desk. “You’re the friend.” She smiled again. “I guess I was expecting someone a little older. Sam said someone was on the way. Come on back. We’re getting ready to move her upstairs.”
    We stopped outside a blue curtain. “Is she awake?” I whispered.
    â€œNo. She’s slipped into a coma. I don’t think there’s much hope for her coming out of it.” Margie opened the curtain. Laying a hand on my shoulder, she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
    Fluffy pillows framed Mrs. Canard, and her short gray hair looked like a halo around her head. While she’d always been pale, now the blue veins were visible in her hands and on her face. She seemed even more fragile than she had this afternoon.
    â€œI was with her earlier today. I don’t understand. She seemed fine.”
    Margie checked the machine that was keeping a watch on Mrs. Canard’s stats. “That’s the horrible thing about strokes; one minute the person seems perfectly fine, the next they can’t speak and they’re paralyzed. It’s terrible.”
    Two orderlies arrived with a bed and moved the older woman onto it so gently I barely saw her jostled. Sweet is a small town, but the hospital is state of the art. It isn’t very large but there are four floors. I rode in the elevator as we made our way to room 411.
    Sam was there and helped get her settled. “I’m sorry, Kira. I know how much you love her.” I’d told him about her when we were in college and how she was the one who encouraged me to go after my dreams.
    â€œIs there nothing you can do to make her better?” It was more of a plea than anything.
    â€œWe can try to make her as comfortable as possible, but there’s just been too much damage to the brain stem.” He hugged me.
    â€œIt isn’t fair. There isn’t a kinder woman on the planet.” I choked up, trying hard not to sob.
    â€œI know. So let’s make her last few hours as peaceful as possible. We can play her favorite music, and it’s important for you to talk with her. Do you know what she loved most?”
    That was an easy one. “Books.” I pulled away from him. “I have a paperback she gave me earlier in my purse.”
    â€œThat would be great, and I’ll go downstairs to see if I can find a CD player or radio. Music is always good.” He paused at the door.
    I stared at Mrs. Canard. She already seemed so peaceful, her mouth curved in a gentle smile, her skin smooth of tension. “She loved music too. Whatever you find will be fine.”
    He smiled. “You keep talking to her. We still haven’t found her family, but we’re working on it.”
    Sam left and I moved a chair closer to the bed. I took her hand in mine. It was a little cool, and I