Wish I Were Here

Chapter 21

M elanie stops in the doorway with her shoulders back and chin lifted, surveying the room. I stand up straighter, but her eyes sweep past me, and she heads for the table next to Luca, where she sets down the laptop under her arm, flips it open, and scans the screen.

“Okay,” she says in a clipped voice. “Let’s see what we have here.” She slides a pair of glasses on her nose. “Luca Morelli. I’m Dr. Jankowski.”

My heart pounds so loudly, I’m surprised she can’t hear it. There is no mistaking that I resemble this woman. She has the same blond hair as I do, although hers is shorter. Her blue eyes are the same shape and color as mine. I got Dad’s nose, I’ve always known that, but now I know where my lips came from. Is this what I’ll look like in about twenty years?

And more importantly, will Melanie notice?

Luca obviously sees our similarities, because he’s looking back and forth between us with his eyebrows raised.

“And you are?” she murmurs, typing something into the form in front of her. Although she still hasn’t glanced in my direction, I know she’s talking to me.

“I’m, uh—his friend.” Can she hear my voice shake?

Melanie keeps typing. Her fingers are long and thin, nails painted the palest pink. “Gas station sushi, Mr. Morelli?”

“That’s right,” Luca answers.

Finally, Melanie looks up from the screen, and her gaze drifts to Luca stretched out on the bed. “Raw fish is one of the most common carriers of foodborne pathogens. Food poisoning symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, vomiting, and fever.”

“Ugh,” Luca murmurs, sitting up straighter.

Melanie goes back to typing. “Untreated, it can lead to health problems such as meningitis, kidney damage, and hemolytic uremic syndrome.” She raises an eyebrow. “You know gas station sushi is not a good idea, right?”

“I know now,” Luca says, looking a little green.

“All right,” Melanie says, heading over to the sink to wash her hands. Her movements are quick, efficient. There’s no hanging around chatting while she scrubs the soap on her hands and rips off a paper towel. I like a person who gets right to work. “Let me examine you.” She crosses to the bed, where she presses her stethoscope to Luca’s chest and abdomen while he takes deep, slow breaths. “Your vitals are good. Does this hurt?” She pushes gently on Luca’s stomach, just like Dr. Kohler did moments ago.

But this time, Luca says, “Nope.”

“What about this?” Melanie moves her hand to the right, pressing a few more times, I’m guessing where his appendix might be.

He shrugs. “No, I’m feeling fine now.”

Melanie nods. “Sometimes food poisoning can hit you hard, and once you’ve vomited a few times and gotten the bug out of your system, you’ll be on the road to recovery. Still, I’m going to recommend some IV fluids.” She moves swiftly back to her laptop and begins typing.

Luca sits up in the bed. “So, Doc. How long have you been doing this doctoring thing?”

Melanie keeps typing. “I’ve been here at the ER for thirteen years.”

Luca lifts a hand to discreetly wave me over, but I’m frozen against the wall.

“Where did you go to school?”

“I went to Harvard for my undergraduate degree, and Johns Hopkins for my medical degree.”

“Interesting.” Luca gives me another wave, more urgent now, but I’m still not budging. “And do you have any… children?”

Melanie’s fingers go still on the keyboard, and her head lifts. But a second later, she says, “No,” in that same clipped tone and continues typing.

Did I imagine her reaction?

But then Luca’s gaze swings to mine, his eyes wide. He saw it, too. Somehow, that gives me courage to step forward.

“No children?” I ask. “None at all?”

“No,” Melanie repeats, but her typing slows.

Luca slides his feet off the bed so he’s sitting on the edge. “So the name Catherine doesn’t ring a bell?”

Melanie’s spine stiffens and her gaze flies to Luca. “What did you say?”

“Catherine.” I cross the room and step up to the bed so I’m standing in front of her. “I’m Catherine. Catherine Lipton. And I’m pretty sure I’m your daughter.”