"What?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Do you remember the Whitfield girl?"
Arthur frowned.
"Whitfield?"
"From when I was fourteen."
Arthur considered the question.
Then his expression changed.
"The little dark-haired girl from Maple Avenue?"
Daniel nodded.
Arthur stared.
"Lord, I haven't thought about her in years."
Daniel looked toward the doorway.
"I think she's back."
Arthur followed his gaze.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the old man looked at him carefully.
"Daniel."
"Yes?"
"Don't try to solve forty-six years while you're lying in a hospital bed."
Daniel gave a tired smile.
"That's probably good advice."
Arthur squeezed his shoulder.
"First, we get you well."
Lucy looked between them.
"Who's the Whitfield girl?"
Daniel turned toward his daughter.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then answered.
"An old friend."
Lucy frowned.
"From school?"
He nodded.
"From a very long time ago."
She looked toward the doorway.
Then toward him.
"Nora?"
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
"I think so."
Lucy stared.
A dozen questions rose at once.
Then she saw how tired her father looked.
She swallowed them.
For now.
Nora was called into the room shortly before evening.
Lucy had gone with Arthur to get dinner.
Daniel lay propped against the pillows.
His color had improved.
But he looked exhausted.
Nora stopped at the doorway.
For a moment, she could not move.
He looked toward her.
Their eyes met.
Then he said quietly, "Hello, Nora."
She began crying.
Not loudly.
Just a sudden rush of tears she could not control.
She pressed one hand against her mouth.
Daniel watched her.
Then he looked toward the chair.
"Come sit."
She approached slowly.
Her hands trembled.
She sat beside the bed.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Daniel looked directly at her.
"Nora Whitfield?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
He closed his eyes.
A long breath escaped him.
Then he looked toward her again.
"The girl from the bridge."
Another nod.
She tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
Daniel stared toward the ceiling.
For a moment, he seemed to be sorting through a lifetime of memories.
The white summer dress.