Margaret covered her mouth.
“My God.”
Bear said:
“He gave me his phone.”
“What?”
“Screen was broken.”
“He kept trying to call somebody.”
“Couldn’t get it open.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“Me.”
“Probably.”
Bear looked toward the nurses’ station.
“Let's ask.”
They had taken three steps when Richard returned.
He saw Margaret standing.
“Mrs. Holloway.”
Bear muttered:
“Here we go.”
Richard approached quickly.
“You need to sit.”
“My grandson is downstairs.”
Richard blinked.
“What?”
“The crash patient.”
Bear stepped beside Margaret.
“Possibly.”
Richard looked at him.
“And you are?”
“Jack Callahan.”
“Relation?”
Bear glanced at Margaret.
“Not yet.”
Margaret almost laughed despite panic.
Richard did not.
“Sir, this is a patient-care discussion.”
Bear's expression remained neutral.
“She asked me to help.”
“I understand.”
“No.”
Margaret said.
“You don't.”
Richard turned.
“My grandson may be injured downstairs.”
“I can verify.”
“Then verify.”
Richard nodded toward the chair.
“Please sit while I do.”
Margaret remained standing.
Richard looked at Bear.
“Can you encourage her?”
Bear stared.
“She's eighty, not eight.”
Margaret looked at him.
Good.
Richard's mouth tightened.
“I am trying to keep her from another fall.”
Bear softened slightly.
“That part is fair.”
He looked at Margaret.
“Can we sit while he checks?”
She hesitated.
Bear added:
“I'll sit too.”
She finally sat.
Richard walked toward the nurses’ station.
Margaret’s hands shook openly now.
Bear sat beside her instead of across the hall.
Not too close.
“Michael what?”
“Holloway.”
Bear nodded.
“That name…”
“What?”
He frowned.
“Nothing.”
Margaret stared.
“Stop doing that.”
“What?”
“Thinking out loud with your eyebrows.”
He smiled faintly.
“Michael Holloway.”
“Yes.”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Yes.”
“Gray pickup.”
“Yes.”
“Construction boots?”
Margaret’s eyes widened.
Bear nodded.
“Same kid.”
She closed her eyes.
“Oh, Michael.”
“He was okay enough to argue with the paramedic.”
“About?”
“Leaving his toolbox in the truck.”
Margaret laughed and cried simultaneously.
“That idiot.”
Bear smiled.
“Sounds like family.”
Margaret looked at him.
Then suddenly took his hand.
He froze.
Her fingers were tiny around two of his.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Stopping.”
Bear's expression softened.
“Anybody would've.”
“No.”
Margaret shook her head.
“Anybody says that when they did something not everybody does.”
Bear had no answer.
Richard returned with a nurse.
The nurse wore teal scrubs.
Young.
Early thirties.
Her badge read OLIVIA.
She smiled at Margaret.