Chapter 17 - What Evelyn Knew

Elliott did not play the recording for his mother immediately.

He listened first.

All the way through.

Edward said:

I should never have agreed to guaranteed access.

Evelyn answered:

You agreed to private accommodations, not medical displacement.

Edward:

That distinction means nothing if operations are using one to create the other.

Evelyn:

Then stop it.

Edward:

Grant says Charles will pull funding.

Evelyn:

Let him.

There was a long silence.

Then Edward laughed softly.

You always were braver with money than I was.

The recording ended.

Elliott closed his eyes.

Evelyn came to the hospital that afternoon.

She held Nora with shaking hands.

"She is beautiful."

Leah watched her.

"We heard the recording."

Evelyn looked up.

"What recording?"

Elliott told her.

She sat very still.

"I forgot that conversation was recorded. Edward recorded board calls when his memory started failing."

"You told him to end the program."

"I did."

"Then after he died, you initialed the continuation."

Her eyes filled.

"Yes."

Elliott looked away.

Evelyn whispered, "Grief is not an excuse. It is only the condition under which I failed to read what I signed."

Leah felt that sentence settle in the room.

No cartoon villainy.

Just responsibility.

Evelyn said, "I am resigning from the foundation board."

Elliott looked at her.

"You do not have to decide today."

"I decided yesterday. Today I am saying it out loud."

She turned to Leah.

"And the Sutton name should come off the maternity floor."

Leah nodded.

"That should be Arbor Crown's decision with the community, not ours alone."

Evelyn almost smiled.

"You never let me take the easy version of accountability."

"I do not think you would respect me if I did."

"Probably not."

Rachel entered with a document.

"The regulator scheduled a public hearing."

Leah groaned.

"When?"

"Six weeks."

"I will have a six-week-old baby."

"You do not have to testify."

Alicia appeared behind her.

"I do."

Leah looked at her.

Alicia held out a hand.

"Come with me."

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Then she added, "Not as my savior. As the woman who saw the same paper I did and refused to shut up."

Leah took her hand.