Robert Waits Outside
Chapter 19 - Robert Waits Outside
Robert suffered a mild heart attack twelve years after the gala.
He recovered in a public hospital governed partly by patient representatives.
Evelyn visited immediately.
Nora did not.
Robert asked no one to pressure her.
Three days later, Nora arrived and remained outside his room for twenty minutes.
A nurse asked whether she wanted help entering.
“No. I want him to know I am here, but I am not ready to go inside.”
The nurse delivered the message.
Robert replied:
“Tell her the hallway is enough.”
Nora entered the next morning.
They spoke for ten minutes.
No dramatic reconciliation occurred.
Robert apologized again for believing official certainty over Catherine’s questions.
Nora said she did not know what kind of relationship she wanted.
“You can decide slowly,” he answered.
Years earlier, Robert’s instinct was to control every exit until danger passed.
May you like
Age taught him another kind of protection.
Sometimes the door needed to remain open without anyone being pulled through it.
