Chapter 108 - The Errand Girl for Rhythm (2/2)
”Really?” Claire says, wondering why Gab didn't mention her. ”We must have missed each other by a few minutes. I was also there, and…” Wait a minute, Claire suddenly realizes: she was at the hospital last night! So how did she end up at home, in her bed? Was it…Miguel? But how?
”Is he fine, now? Because when I left, he was already awake.”
Claire hesitates. ”He's fine. He's…recuperating.”
”At the hospital? In the ICU? Or has he been transferred to some other room to recover?”
”I think he has been transferred,” Claire lies.
”Oh,” Michelle says. She falls silent for a moment, thinking deeply. She shrugs. ”Well, as he's not here, I don't really have anything to do. I guess I should go and visit him. What do you think?”
”Sure, go ahead,” Claire says, feeling guilty. ”I'm sure he will be delighted to see you.”
Michelle grins. ”That's what I love about you, Bella. You always know the truth.” She grasps her by an arm. ”What say you we go together to the hospital? We can have our little meeting right there. Gab wouldn't want to waste time. I'm sure he'd have wanted to settle things between us.”
For a moment Claire panics. She can't be with her. She's not ready to face the consequence of her little white lie. And she really feels Gabriel needs the meds right now. She takes a deep breath to compose herself, then puts on the sweetest smile. ”I would love to, Michelle. But there's an urgent thing Gabriel has sent me to do. You know how he is when he wants something done as soon as possible—he really, really wants it done pronto! So…”
Michelle makes a sad face. ”Oh, too bad. If Gabriel sees us together, our girl power combined would have healed him instantly.” Michelle giggles, and it's such a fresh, honest-to-goodness girl giggle that Claire is taken aback: this is not the kind of person she had thought Michelle is. Why does Michelle talk to her as if she were her high-school BFF?
”We can do that next time,” Claire says. ”Or maybe tomorrow?”
”Let's do it tomorrow, if Gab's still there,” Michelle says. ”But for now I really need to see him. Make him realize what he has lost, you know. Or at least make him feel I'm on his side.”
”I think that's a good idea,” Claire says, thinking it's not a good idea at all. ”So. Take care. You go ahead, and I'll proceed to my ȧssigned task.”
”Okay,” Michelle chirps. ”See ya!”
Claire stares at Michelle as she walks away, waiting for an enough amount of time for Michelle to be gone in the elevator. She looks at her wristwatch: It's almost time for Gabriel to take these meds. When she's sure Michelle is gone, she follows suit.
”Gabriel's place,” she says to Dean as she slips into the passenger seat. ”And we need to make it fast. He must not miss taking these meds.”
He also must not miss the great surprise she has in store for him, but she doesn't say it; she just keeps it in her heart.