Shock
The next day, Maxwell shows up at the clinic quite early in the morning for a blood draw. Afterward, he gets lead to a small private waiting room, where a nurse also serves him breakfast. He is busy reading the newspaper when a nurse knocks.
"Mr. Sheffield! I'm sorry, but your examination has to be delayed. Dr. Goldberg was called for surgery unexpectedly. I'm afraid I can't even predict when he will be available again."
"That's all right! I have time!" The nurse nods at him gratefully. "Please let me know if you need anything."
The waiting drags on endlessly. On the nurse's advice, he takes a walk in the parc. He is just on his way to return to his rest room when his eyes fall on a patient in a hospital bed being pushed out of a treatment room toward the elevator. He is not able to see her face, but this person must be very ill. An IV stucks in her arm and she lies curled up like an embryo under the covers. Maxwell wants to open the door when he hears a nurse say.
"Miss Fine, you made it! We're going to take you back to your room now."
Abruptly, Maxwell freezes and turns around. His eyes are wide with shock. As the nurse pushes the bed into the elevator, he gets a chance to see the patient's face.
It's Fran. She is all pale, her hair is knot at the nape of her neck, her lips look chabby and her eyes are closed. She looks so different, but it's unmistakably his Fran. The elevator doors close and Maxwell turns on his heel and runs out of the hospital.
This can't be real! This could not be true! In a daze, he wanders around the city for hours until he finally returns back to his hotel suite. Completely exhausted, he drops onto the couch in the living area. He tries to sort out his thoughts. Fran didn't leave him and the kids because of Dr. Goldberg. She is sick, probably terminally ill. This Gideon guy is not her lover but her doctor. In his mind, piece by piece, the puzzle comes together.
Now it's clear to him why she doesn't give anyone any contact information and why she doesn't want a visit. So nobody finds out that in reality, she stays in a hospital. But Maxwell can't find an answer to one question. Why this hiding game? Why did Fran lie to her whole environment and why does she hide her illness?
But he will find the answer. Now, it was time to lie the cards on the table. He will talk to Dr. Goldberg, openly and honestly. He wants to know what kind of disease Fran exactly suffers from and Dr. Goldberg has to help him so that he can see Fran and talk with her. He suspects the next time will be a hard road for all of them.