AN: A very short chapter, I know, but hopefully I will update soon so I don't leave you all hanging for too long. Don't forget to review and let me know what you think. I always enjoy some praise,constructive criticism, or just some signs that people are reading this.
Chapter 16. A New Worry
"Mrs. Hendrickson?" Leah entered the room and found her sleeping quietly in her bed. "Of course, I come and find you sleeping and my visit spoiled."
"I would not call it spoiled."
"Will?" Leah saw him rise from a seat. "What are you doing here?"
"Visiting her, of course." Will smiled. "She's grown on me, just as she does for everyone she meets, I am sure. I sat and had a chat with her until she talked herself into sleep."
"Sounds like her," Leah laughed but then covered her mouth. "We should really go into the hall. I wouldn't want to wake her."
"Always thinking about others," Will remarked, holding the door open for her.
"Has she… is she getting better?"
"Yes, I talked to the doctors, and the shock of it all is fading. She goes to physical therapy every afternoon now, not exactly sure why. I did not want to bombard the doctors with questions when I was not a relative of hers."
"What did you talk about?"
"About the weather and some small talk at first. But that was just a warm-up. She asked about you, for the most part."
Leah took a deep breath before asking the question she had been initially holding back.
"Will, did Mrs. Hendrickson mention meeting anyone here?" her eyes lowered. "The Gordon's child?"
"Leah…" Will reached out but she turned away.
"Please Will, I need to know."
"She said she was visited by her neighbor," Will sighed, having to obey her demand. "That the kid was a patient here at the hospital. She said the kid was looking for her brother, but apparently he was no where to be found. She didn't really say much else. Most of the time she had just been rambling on about what a sweet girl she was."
"A sweet girl?" Leah's eyes shot up. "Will, I met with the Gordon's kid, and he's a boy. He's a grown-up now. I mean, Will… he is an adult and planning to be a doctor."
"The doctors… they told me she was hallucinating," Will said it slowly, not wanting to deliver the news too fast. "They said she would probably be released now, if not for this. And they can find no cause for it."
"But, how can this be happening? How…" Leah moved into Will's arms and wrapped her arms around him, her head against his shoulder. "I do not understand."
"Well, if it's any consolation, at least she's not seeing something worse. I mean, if I had to see something that wasn't there, at least I get to have a conversation with a sweet little girl in pigtails. How terrifying could that be?"
"Pigtails?" Leah looked up at Will. "Will… did Mrs. Hendrickson give a name for the girl?"
"A name?" Will thought for a moment. "Yes, I think she mentioned about the girl explaining that she went by Abby." Leah's eyes closed to conceal the tears. "She was going on and on for so long, I don't remember everything she said. I think there was something about her brother giving her a nickname of some sorts, but I think that her full name was Abigail. I guess that would make sense… Abby is short for Abigail… Leah, you're crying."
"Will, Mrs. Hendrickson is not hallucinating."
"She's not? Why wouldn't she be? Leah, she's seeing things that aren't there. She believes this girl, this Abby, is real? If that isn't hallucinating, I don't know what is. Unless she decided to lie and play us as fools…"
"She is not lying. Abigail… she's real."
"Real? Leah, no one enters Mrs. Hendrickson's room excepts the doctors, nurses, and visitors like you and me. She must be seeing things or lying."
"If she is some schizophrenic, so am I."
"Leah, you're not making sense." Will held her out and stared at her. "What are you talking about?"
"Will, I know Abigail." Leah opened her eyes and the tears cascaded down her cheeks. "I saw her just the other day and talked with her. It wouldn't make sense that Mrs. Hendrickson is seeing the same thing as me, and that we were both hallucinating the very same person."
"Oh God, Leah."
"Leah?" Ethan walked back to the foyer when he heard the door open slowly. "How did your visit…"
"Ethan," Leah gave him a smile. "This is Will."
"So you are Will," Ethan provided him with a wan smile and held out a hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard very good things about you."
"About me?" Will laughed. "I hear the same about you. It's about time I met the man who does our Leah so much good."
"How did your visit go?" Ethan inquired. "Is Mrs. Hendrickson improving as we all prayed?"
"I'm not sure, to tell you the truth." Leah walked past him and sat down at the table. "Oh my, Ethan! Did you honestly cook all this?"
"I receive great pleasure in cooking," Ethan went to the cabinets and retrieved some plates. "And I thought you would like something to eat when you returned from the hospital. Being there can drain a lot from a person."
"I could not have said it better myself," Leah commented as she filled up her plate.
"You really are as good as I have heard," Will patted Ethan on the back. "I have never seen her pig out like this in so long."
"Well, you aren't going to leave me here, eating in front of you all day, are you?" Leah questioned. "Come sit down now and help me devour this food."
And, together the three sat at the table, enjoying the heavenly food, courtesy of Ethan, and putting aside all the worry, troubles, and fears that had been residing in them all morning for later on in the day.