“Neither do I.
That’s the point.
Five years ago I knew nothing about the story you handed me either, and I acted as if I knew everything.”
His mother crossed her arms.
“What do you want from us?”
“Nothing.”
That frightened her more than anger.
Caleb gathered the documents.
“Counsel has copies.
The original material you gave me five years ago is being preserved.
If any records were fabricated, altered, accessed improperly, or used fraudulently, that will be handled through the appropriate legal channels.”
His father stared at him.
“You would drag your own family through an investigation for her?”
“No.”
Caleb opened the door.
“For the truth.
You taught me how expensive ignoring evidence can become.”
His parents left without seeing Nora.
Caleb did not stop them.
Later that evening, one of Nora’s physicians approached him.
“She’s awake.
She asked who performed the surgery.”
Caleb’s throat tightened.
“What did you tell her?”
“The truth.”
Of course.
“She wants to speak with you.”
Caleb entered Nora’s room slowly.
She looked exhausted.
Her face remained pale, and every movement seemed to cost her energy.
But her eyes were clear.
He stopped several feet from the bed.
“The babies?” she asked immediately.
“Both are in NICU.
They’re premature, but they’re being cared for.
The team will give you every detail.”
Her eyes filled.
She closed them for a moment, absorbing the words.
When she looked at Caleb again, the softness was gone.
“You operated on me.”
“Yes.”
“I remember seeing you.
I thought I was imagining it.”
“You said my name.
Then your pressure dropped.”
Nora looked toward the window.
“Of course it did.”
Despite everything, a brief, broken sound escaped Caleb that might once have been a laugh.
Nora did not smile.
He deserved that too.
He placed the worn envelope on the table where she could see it.
Her gaze snapped to it.
“You opened it.”
“Yes.”
“Five years late.”
“Yes.”
