Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family Book 4)

Fallon was directed to a cubicle with a sliding door to which Clara had been assigned. Her boss lay back in bed, her skin pale, oxygen being given to her through the small cannula in her nose.

“Clara, I’m here. I’d have come sooner but I wasn’t in the city. How are you?” Fallon pulled a chair over to the bed, lifted Clara’s hand, and held it between her palms.

“I was dizzy and out of breath. Oliver said he tried to get me an appointment with a specialist but there were no openings for six weeks. He said I should go to work and it would be mind over matter. I’d feel better being busy.”

Fallon clenched her teeth. Sylvie was supposed to work today and she was bringing a friend to train.

But what was wrong with Oliver? Was he trying to work his mother to death? “Oh, Clara. I wish you’d called me sooner.”

“Sylvie was working with her friend, so I had help. I was able to relax at my desk. But the shortness of breath returned when I wasn’t exerting myself and it frightened me.”

“What are they doing for you?” she asked, gently holding her hand as she met her gaze.

Clara’s blue eyes appeared cloudy. “They are doing blood tests to see if I had a heart attack and they want to run some other tests too. They explained them but I’m so tired I didn’t process much of what they said.”

Clara’s son should have been there to bring his mother to the hospital and play interpreter with the doctors. “Where is Oliver?” Fallon asked.

“He said he had an important meeting but I left a message on his phone that I was here. I’m sure he’ll come rushing in any moment.”

Fallon had her doubts.

“Fallon, while we’re alone, I wanted to talk to you.”

“Of course,” Fallon said, leaning forward. “What can I do for you?”

Clara cleared her throat. “I spoke to my lawyer about my will.”

“Your will? Clara, please. Don’t dwell on that.” Nobody liked thinking about death, but Fallon hated it from personal experience. She shuddered at the memories that came back and focused on Clara.

Reaching up, the other woman removed the oxygen from her nose, probably so she could speak more clearly. “It’s prudent for someone of my means to think ahead. And when I wasn’t feeling well it made me start thinking and act on what’s important.”

Not wanting to think about a world without Clara in it, Fallon swallowed over the lump in her throat. Just the idea reminded her of the gaping loss of her mother. Her father and brothers had tried hard to compensate, as did Lizzie, but a little girl needed her mom.

“Okay,” she said, aware of how important this topic was to Clara. “What about your will?”

“Darling, should something happen to me, I am leaving you the gallery.”

She gasped, shock rendering her mute.

“Don’t look so surprised. Nobody loves the place like I do… except you. I want it to go to someone who loves art, knows how to stock it, and sell beautiful things to people who will enjoy them. Nobody does that as well as you. Not even me.”

A tear fell from her eye and she wiped it with the back of her hand. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll give the place all the love you do now and I’ll be happy.”

Still at a loss for words, she nodded and managed to whisper, “I promise. Now please put the oxygen back?”

Clara smiled and did as she asked, reseating the oxygen, allowing Fallon to relax that she could breathe easier.

“Mother!” Oliver came barging into the room, rushing to his mother’s side, and all but pushing Fallon out of the way. “I was tied up in a meeting and just got your message. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

“Oliver! Apologize for shoving Fallon aside,” Clara said.

He turned to face her with cold eyes. “My apologies.” He pivoted to face his mother. “I told you to try not to think about things. You probably have indigestion. What do the doctors say?”

“They’re testing for a heart attack,” Fallon told him through gritted teeth. “Clara, do whatever tests they want you to do.”

Aware Oliver had taken over and she was no longer needed here, Fallon stepped across the room to the other side of the bed.

“I’m going to leave you two alone.” Leaning down, she kissed the other woman’s cheek. “Feel better. I’ll call and check on you tonight. Maybe you’ll have news from the doctors.” She glanced around the room, her gaze landing on Clara’s cell. Do you have your phone charger?”

Clara shook her head.

“Well, I happen to carry an extra.” Fallon retrieved it from her bag and plugged it into the wall, aware of Oliver’s calculating stare as she hooked up Clara’s cell. “Talk to you later.”

She walked out in a state of shock from Clara’s pronouncement, heading out through the waiting room of the ER.

“Fallon!”

She turned at the sound of Noah’s voice, surprised he was still waiting. “Noah! You stayed.”

“You rushed off before I could let you know I was waiting until you were through.”

She leapt forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. “Thank you.” She wasn’t ashamed to admit she needed him. “I have a lot to tell you.”

He slid a hand into hers. “Then let’s go back to my place, which you’ve never seen, and we can talk.”