Chapter 60

Suddenly, without a warning, Miah and Alexander had another vision as their eyes met, they knew it was them ... .in the past…standing outside Shaina’s room.

 “Are you Miah Del Ponce?” There was a stranger standing outside Shaina’s room. She sensed he had been lurking there for some time. Miah had scanned him, of course, that was as natural to her as breathing, and she had known he was waiting to talk with her.

“The doctors here are quite remarkable,” she said softly. “Don’t you think it is much more likely they healed the child if her cancer is in remission? I go and read to the children often, but I cannot heal them, much as I would like to. Have you seen them on the cancer ward? They are so beautiful and brave. It’s rather heartbreaking. Perhaps you should visit them. The story would have tremendous human interest, don’t you think?”

She buried the subtle compulsion in her suggestion carefully. The reporter shook his head as if to clear it. “I have to get the story.” She nodded gently, her long hair moving like a silken curtain around her shoulders. “Yes, the story about the doctors here in the hospital and how remarkable they really are.” Her dark eyes stared directly into his.

“You really must write about their work.” Woods caught himself as he was turning toward the cancer ward. He shook his head hard to clear out the cobwebs. For a moment he was disoriented, unable to remember exactly what he had been doing. Uppermost in his mind was the overwhelming urge to write a story about children with cancer. He shook his head again, certain he had not come here for that reason. 

A woman was walking away from him, her hips swaying gently. Her hair hung below her waist, thick and rich and shining with high lights. She was so beautiful she took his breath away and he hadn’t even seen her face. He stood a moment, reluctant to move. He couldn’t think what he was doing. He wanted her to turn so he could see her. He wanted to follow her, but his feet felt like lead. He had come here for a reason, an important reason, but he could only remember that he wanted to write a story on children with cancer. There was a doctor he needed to talk with. Not French, but English. Strange name.

Bert something. Woods scratched his head and turned resolutely away from the cancer ward. He felt very lost, very confused. He had no real idea what he was doing.

“How long do you think you can keep avoiding me?” Bert demanded as he came up behind Miah. “Don’t flatter yourself, Bert,” Miah said exasperated. “This isn’t the best time to confront me. I just had a little visit from a very unsavory reporter. He was making me out to be some kind of nutcase. I suspect I have you to thank for that.” Bert had the grace to look ashamed even as he tried to shrug her accusation off casually.

 “I only told the truth. You examined my patient. At the time she was terminally ill. There is no question that was so. It was fully documented and I have all the records to prove it.

Afterward every blood test came out clean, Miah. She’s completely cured. I didn’t do it and I have no idea how it was done.” “So you just gave me up to reporters, the freak miracle worker. You made sure my privacy was completely destroyed. Is that supposed to make me look upon you with favor?” Miah tossed her head, her thick curtain of blue-black hair flying. “I’m busy avoiding your reporters, Bert. 

I don’t have time for a little chat.” “Miah, it didn’t happen like that. Come on, you know me better than that. I admit I like to grab the headlines, but it wasn’t me who talked to the reporters.” He caught her arm, bringing her to a halt. 

“Stop running, Miah, you’re wearing me out. It wasn’t me. It was the girl’s parents. Her name is Chelsea Grant. Her father is a United States senator. I mentioned you to her mother without thinking. There was no hope for Chelsea. None. Her parents knew that. I wasn’t the only doctor who had examined her. I was only one in a long line of opinions. Mrs. Grant had you investigated. Several former patients were only too happy to be able to talk about you and the miracle you worked for them.” Miah glanced down at the fingers trapping her arm. 

There had been a time the brush of his fingers had warmed her heart; now he irritated her. Was she so shallow that her feelings could change so easily, so quickly? Or had she somehow deceived herself about his true character because she had been so lonely? She had wanted to share her life with someone once before she allowed herself to die. 

Now Miah could clearly see how important headlines were to Bert, how important pleasing a senator’s wife really was to him. “Important enough to sell me out,” she mused aloud. “You wanted her to owe you a favor.” 

“I’m sorry, Miah, I wanted the best for my patient. And yes, she happens to have parents who could smooth my way to the hospital I want. 

A place where my skills can really make a difference.”

 “I thought you cared about these kids.” “Of course I care about them, I’ve dedicated my life to them. You haven’t learned that it’s okay to want to make a decent living. You have money, Miah. You have more than enough, although you’re giving it away at an alarming rate. I need to make a living. It’s as easy and as heroic to help a rich sick child as it is to help one that’s homeless.”

 “Like Shaina,” Miah said softly. “She can’t do a thing for your career. You didn’t want her in your life so you tried to make certain she wasn’t in mine. That is beneath contempt, Bert. That child needs a home and I can provide her with a good one. For you to try to keep me from taking her home was absolutely unforgivable. How could you do such a thing?”

 “Damn it, Miah. You’re the one who’s changed, not me. You knew I wanted certain things. This isn’t about me, it’s about him. Alexander. What is he, exactly? A government spy? A mob boss of some kind? Is he holding something over your head? Over the judge’s? Are you all afraid of him? Don’t think I haven’t noticed something’s not quite right about him. Was he in prison for a crime? Where has he been all the years he was gone?”

 “You heard what the judge said. He has all he needs to know about Alexander. His life is a matter of security. It’s classified.” Bert bit back an explosion of swear words.

 “Is that what he told you? And you just believe him? Don’t you see, Miah? He could be a criminal of the worst sort. You’re too trusting. He just waltzes back into your life after dropping off the face of the earth and you accept him. The judge accepts him. Your attorney accepts him. My God, don’t you see? He’s not like us.” 

“No, he’s not. He’s good and kind and has no ulterior motive when it comes to Shaina.” Miah’s dark eyes were flashing fire at him. She was so beautiful Bert found himself reaching for her, wanting to take her into his arms. He must have blinked because she moved so fast he didn’t actually see her move, but his arms dropped empty to his sides.