Things only got worse for him when she didn’t show up for lunch. Hardy absently tolerated the teasing of his friends as he watched for her to make her way out into the sun with Lucy. But she didn’t. Hardy didn’t see Miracle or Lucy. At all.
By the time sixth period photography rolled around, Hardy was as grouchy as a bear with a thorn in its paw. When Miracle hadn’t appeared by the time the bell rang, Hardy went to talk to Mr. Gault to see if he’d heard from her.
“She’s already been in. She asked to work in the conservatory today since she’s already done this part of her assignment,” Mr. Gault said, referring to a short quiz they were supposed to be taking.
“Can I be excused?”
Mr. Gault eyed Hardy suspiciously.
“My hand’s hurting,” Hardy fibbed easily. He didn’t care. He would say whatever he had to in order to get to the conservatory.
“All right. Straight to the nurse’s office. No stops along the way.”
“Yes, sir,” Hardy said, hating to disappoint his favorite teacher should he find out what Hardy was really up to.
Without giving it another thought, Hardy bolted for the conservatory. When he reached it, he wrenched the door open with his good hand and searched the balmy interior for Miracle. Somehow he knew where she would be—with the orchids.
When he rounded the corner, Hardy’s heart jumped up into his throat. Miracle was lying on her side beneath the orchids as if she’d lain down to take a nap with the sleeping night-bloomers.
“Miracle?” Hardy said softly, doing his best to hide the panic in his voice. At her name, Miracle’s eyelashes fluttered and she licked her lips. She was pale and sweaty and she looked like she was on death’s doorstep.
“Hardy,” she answered flatly, her eyes closing again. Hardy could hear her shallow breathing. He rushed to her, dropping to his knees at her side.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his hands dancing lightly over her body as he searched for an injury of some sort, praying he’d find one. He refused to think that what ailed her was something internal, something he couldn’t see. Something that could take her from him forever. He felt tears sting his eyes when she didn’t answer. “Miracle, can you hear me?”
Her nod was barely perceptible, so without wasting one more minute, Hardy dropped his camera bag and scooped her up into his arms. He didn’t even feel the pain radiating up his arm from his wounded hand.
Nearly running, Hardy made his way to the nurse’s office, bypassing the attendant and going straight into one of the two bays to lay Miracle on the bed. An indignant nurse followed him, but her angry words died on her lips when she saw Miracle.
“Marjorie, call 911,” she called behind her before returning her attention to Miracle.
“I found her like this. What’s wrong with her?”
The nurse put the back of her hand against Miracle’s brow and frowned. “Well, she’s not running a fever. What’s her name?”
“Miracle.”
“Miracle,” the nurse said, gently rubbing Miracle’s cheek. “Miracle, honey, can you hear me?”
Miracle mumbled something unintelligible as she struggled to open her eyes, to no avail.
“Well?” Hardy prompted.
“Is she allergic to anything? Bee stings? Anything like that?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Hmm. Well, it’s hard to say what it is, honey, but they’ll get her to the hospital and take a look at her there.”
“So we’re waiting for the ambulance? I can get her to the hospital faster. Let me take her,” Hardy begged.
“No, sir!” the nurse said, shaking her head. “Neither one of you is leaving my sight until the ambulance gets here.”
Hardy had a feeling she might say that. He could’ve kicked himself for not taking Miracle straight to the hospital. He knew it was always better to ask forgiveness than permission. Now he was stuck.
“Do you know if she has any health problems?”
“Yes, she had kidney cancer a while back and had chemo and radiation.”
Hardy saw the look that came over the nurse’s face. He felt it like an arrow to his heart. He knew what she was thinking and it was almost more than he could bear.
“Please let me take her,” he pleaded. Hardy’s voice trembled, but he didn’t care. The only thing he cared about was lying on a bed in front of him, precious seconds of her life ticking by. “Please.”
The nurse’s face softened. “Darlin’, whatever is wrong with her isn’t going to be fixed in the next ten minutes. Besides, they’ll take her in faster if she comes in on the squad.”
Hardy rationalized that she was probably right, so he quit asking to take her. Instead, he squatted down and took Miracle’s limp hand in his splinted one.
“Miracle? Can you hear me?”
Her head rolled from side to side and she mumbled again, but he got no more reaction than that.
“Did you carry her all the way here with a broken hand?”
Hardy didn’t spare a glance at the nurse. “Yes, ma’am.”
He heard her sigh. He felt her pity. But he didn’t want it. He just wanted Miracle to be okay.
“She’ll be all right, won’t she?”
“I sure hope so, honey.”
The nurse left to make sure the secretary notified Miracle’s mother. Six minutes later, the ambulance arrived to carry Miracle away. Without even asking for permission, Hardy went straight to his car and followed them.
When he got to the hospital, Kelly St. James was already there. She was visibly shaken, but still holding it together. A nurse appeared just as they were taking Miracle back into the bowels of the emergency room. Could you please get her registered while we get her into a room? We’ll bring you straight back as soon as you’re finished.
Hardy couldn’t imagine how hard that was for Kelly to hear. She nodded stiffly and turned toward the registration area. Hardy paced the floor in the waiting area, knowing he had no choice but to await Miracle’s mother. Some ten minutes later, she emerged.
“Mrs. St. James! Kelly!” he called, rushing toward her.
Although she didn’t look exactly thrilled to see him, she didn’t look like she had completely written him off either. He took that as a good sign and hoped she’d have pity on him.
“Hardy, I really don’t have time for this right now. I—”
“Please,” Hardy interrupted. “I don’t know what Miracle has told you, but please don’t make me leave. I need to know she’s gonna be okay.”