Chapter 5: Room 317
St. Catherine's Hospital looked nothing like the hospitals I remembered.
The entrance was enormous, with glass doors, white marble floors, and a reception desk beneath a bright chandelier.
Thomas carried me inside.
Rebecca followed closely behind.
We had left my father's house without telling Victoria where we were going.
Thomas had insisted that we needed answers before she could interfere again.
At the reception desk, a middle-aged woman looked up.
“Good afternoon. How can I help you?””
Thomas placed the photograph on the counter.
“We're looking for information about a patient who may have been admitted here under a different name.””
The receptionist examined it.
“Do you have her medical record number?””
“No.””
“Then I'm afraid I can't provide patient information.””
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Her name is Elizabeth Carter.””
The receptionist typed something.
“I'm sorry. I can't find a current patient under that name.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“She may have been admitted under an alias.””
The receptionist stopped typing.
“Sir, I really cannot disclose confidential records.””
Rebecca reached into her handbag.
She removed a folded document.
“This is an authorization signed by Daniel Carter. It was prepared before his death.””
The receptionist examined it.
Her expression changed.
“Please wait here.””
She disappeared through a door behind the desk.
Thomas turned toward Rebecca.
“Where did you get that?””
“Daniel gave it to me.””
“Why didn't you show me earlier?””
“Because I wasn't sure I could trust you.””
Thomas shook his head.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because I had reasons.””
I looked up at him.
“Uncle Thomas, are we going to see Mommy?””
He crouched.
“We're going to try, baby.””
“Will she remember me?””
His eyes softened.
“She could never forget you.””
I looked down at my shoes.
“I don't remember her very well.””
Thomas placed his hand against my cheek.
“That's okay. You don't have to remember everything to love someone.””
Before I could answer, the receptionist returned.
“Mr. Cole?””
“Yes.””
“The hospital administrator would like to speak with you.””
Thomas frowned.
“Why?””
“She recognized the document.””
Rebecca went still.
The receptionist pointed toward the elevators.
“Third floor. Administrative offices.””
We followed her instructions.
The elevator doors closed.
For several seconds, the only sound was the soft mechanical hum.
Then Rebecca spoke.
“Thomas, there's something I haven't told you.””
He looked at her.
“Of course there is.””
“Daniel didn't just ask me to protect Lily.””
“What else?””
“He asked me to find Elizabeth.””
Thomas's face hardened.
“Why?””
“Because he believed she was trying to contact him.””
Thomas stared at her.
“Trying?””
Rebecca nodded.
“Three weeks before the accident, Daniel received a letter. It was written by Elizabeth.””
“Where is it?””
“I gave it to Victoria.””
Thomas's eyes widened.
“You did what?””
Rebecca looked down.
“I thought Victoria was trying to help.””
Thomas let out a bitter laugh.
“You handed her the one thing that could have helped my brother find his wife?””
“I didn't know what she was planning!””
The elevator doors opened.
Thomas stepped out without another word.
We entered a quiet corridor lined with framed photographs of hospital executives.
A woman in a navy-blue suit stood outside an office.
She was in her late sixties, with silver hair and reading glasses.
“Mr. Cole?””
“Yes.””
“I'm Margaret Ellis, hospital administrator.””
Thomas shook her hand.
Margaret looked at me.
“And this must be Lily.””
I nodded.
She smiled gently.
“Your father spoke about you often.””
My eyes filled immediately.
“You knew Daddy?””
Margaret's smile faded.
“Yes, sweetheart. I did.””
She opened the office door.
“Please come inside.””
The office smelled faintly of coffee and paper.
Margaret closed the door.
She sat behind her desk and opened a drawer.
“I have been waiting for someone from Daniel's family to come here.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“Then tell us where Elizabeth Carter is.””
Margaret took a long breath.
“Before I answer, I need to explain something.””
Thomas's expression tightened.
“Please.””
Margaret placed a thick folder on the desk.
“Approximately four years ago, a woman was admitted to this hospital following a serious incident. Her medical records were initially registered under the name Elizabeth Carter.””
I gripped Thomas's hand.
Margaret continued.
“However, after several weeks, the records were amended at the request of an authorized representative.””
Thomas frowned.
“Who authorized the change?””
Margaret opened the folder.
“Victoria Hayes.””
Rebecca gasped.
Thomas stood.
“Why would she have authority over Elizabeth's records?””
Margaret looked uncomfortable.
“She presented legal documentation claiming she was acting on behalf of the family.””
“Was it legitimate?””
“We discovered irregularities much later.””
Thomas leaned over the desk.
“Where is Elizabeth now?””
Margaret hesitated.
Then she pulled out a sheet of paper.
“Room 317.””
I gasped.
“That's the room on the photograph!””
Margaret nodded.
“Yes.””
Thomas looked at the clock.
“Can we see her?””
Margaret stood.
“There is something you should understand. Elizabeth has experienced significant memory difficulties. She may not recognize everyone.””
I swallowed.
“What if she doesn't know me?””
Margaret looked at me kindly.
“Then you can introduce yourself.””
We followed her through the corridor.
Room numbers passed slowly.
301.
303.
305.
My heart beat faster with every step.
When we reached 317, Margaret stopped.
She rested her hand on the door handle.
“Before we enter, I need to tell you that this woman has been protected from certain visitors for her own safety.””
Thomas frowned.
“Protected by whom?””
Margaret looked at Rebecca.
“Initially, by hospital staff. Later, by someone who came here regularly.””
Rebecca's face went pale.
“Who?””
Margaret opened the door.
A woman sat beside the window.
She was wearing a pale blue cardigan and had a blanket across her knees.
Her hair was longer than in the photograph.
Her face was thinner.
But it was her.
My mother.
I forgot how to breathe.
“Mommy?””
The woman slowly turned.
Her eyes landed on me.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then her hand rose to her mouth.
“Oh my God.””
I took one small step forward.
“Mommy?””
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Lily?””
I ran.
She opened her arms, and I threw myself into them.
Her arms wrapped around me.
She smelled like lavender and clean laundry.
I pressed my face against her shoulder.
“Mommy, Daddy said you were in heaven.””
She began sobbing.
“Oh, my baby. My beautiful baby.””
“Why didn't you come home?””
She held me tighter.
“I tried.””
“Why?””
She looked over my shoulder.
Her eyes landed on Thomas.
Then Rebecca.
Then Margaret.
Finally, her gaze stopped on the brass key hanging from my fingers.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you get that?””
I lifted it.
“Daddy left it in his coffin.””
My mother's lips trembled.
She took my little hand and examined the key.
Then she whispered something that made Thomas step closer.
“Daniel found it.””
Thomas frowned.
“Found what?””
My mother looked toward the door.
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
She closed her eyes.
“Proof that Victoria never had the right to control Lily's inheritance.””
Thomas looked at Rebecca.
“Why would Victoria keep Elizabeth here?””
My mother began shaking.
“Because I knew what she had done.””
“What did she do?””
Elizabeth looked directly at Thomas.
“She forged my signature. She stole the money. And when I threatened to expose her, she made sure I could never speak to Daniel again.””
Thomas's jaw tightened.
“Did she cause Daniel's accident?””
My mother began crying harder.
“I don't know.””
Thomas moved closer.
“Elizabeth, please. We need the truth.””
She looked at me.
Then she gently touched my cheek.
“Your father came here the night before he died.””
Thomas froze.
“What?””
Elizabeth nodded.
“He told me he had found the documents. He promised he would come back the next morning and take us both home.””
Her voice broke.
“But he never came.””
I looked at her.
“Mommy, why didn't you tell me?””
She kissed my forehead.
“Because I wasn't allowed to.””
Thomas stared at Margaret.
“Who prevented her from contacting us?””
Margaret looked down.
Then she opened a second folder.
“There's a record of every visitor who signed in during the past four years.””
Thomas took it.
He turned the pages.
His eyes stopped at one name.
Then he read it again.
Rebecca stepped closer.
“What is it?””
Thomas slowly lifted his head.
The name appeared on the visitor record again and again.
Not Victoria.
Not some stranger.
Not a hospital employee.
It was someone standing in the room with us.
Thomas looked directly at Rebecca.
“Why were you visiting Elizabeth every week?””
Rebecca's face collapsed.
May you like
And my mother whispered:
“Because Rebecca was the one who told Victoria where Daniel was going that night.””
