As My Daughter Burned, He Lit Fireworks for Her

o the elevator when

een Elinor angry. He had seen her hysterical. But he had never seen her eyes g

ver the elevator button. Kamry

en, flashed in his mind. The super had said she hadn't left the apa

" Derick

d back down the hall. He p

d out, his voice s

sto

an unnatural angle. A dark pool of liquid was sprea

world narrowed to the woma

He gathered her into his arms, his hands shaking. Her face was white, h

ping her cheek. "Wake

d. Her head lolle

h trembling fingers. He bypasse

ice answered on

tight. "Elinor's hurt. She's unconscious. Bl

He pressed his hand against the wound, trying to staunch the

Alistair Finch, the Grant family physician, rushed i

the bed," Fi

down gently. He stepped back, his hands covered

ing the gash closed. He checked her pupils, her pulse, her blood pressure. He hook

ack, he looked at Derick.

n. The fall was a result of her body shutting down. Another few h

e looked so small, so fragile. The bones of her wrist

" Derick asked,

other shock like this, it could kill her. She needs r

s bag and left, th

e pulled a chair up to the bedside and sat down

n went down, casting

the pillow, her brow furrowed. Tears le

ered. "Please..

hand hovering over hers, un

rick's wrist, her grip surprisingly st

e..." The rest was a torrent of anguished, incoherent mumbling. He caught frag

eyes fl

sat bolt upright. She looked around the ro

the headboard, her chest heaving. She reached up

from me," s

palms out. "You passed ou

IV in her hand, then back to his face. The wild

shing. "So, even in your sleep, you're spinning stories?" he a

tongue, but her stomach interrupted. A loud, prolo

ed at her flat stomach,

with humiliation. She lo

owly. "I'll get yo

tched him go, her hand drifting up to touch the locket that still hung around he