Matt lowered his voice. Although it was no point now since they were practically alone. “Fine, I don’t give a damn. I hope it eats you up inside.” He started for the elevators.
“The only person who should feel guilty here is you,” Ben called back after him.
Matt turned slowly. “What did you say?” The guy had a lot of nerve.
Ben’s eyes blazed. “I heard you with mom last night.”
Matt swallowed and stared at Ben.
“You knew something was off with her in the morning, and you still let her go.” Ben’s voice turned harsh, with a hint of disgust.
Matt cringed.
“Of course I knew something was off with her, she had a rough night, in case you’d forgotten.” Matt turned and ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. At that point, he couldn’t tell who he was frustrated with.
Ben shrugged. “Makes sense…you were too angry to pay any attention,” he paused, “but apparently, you saw it all, just didn’t care.” He stepped back and frowned, as if attempting to view him in a different light. “How do you not see something like that when it’s happening right in front of you?”
Matt hated to admit it but Ben was right. Normally, Matt was able to see and feel nearly everything Liz was feeling. He’d pick up on it with the slightest way she moved, or the faintest change in her tone that no one else would notice. He prided himself on how well he knew her. But the truth is, hedidn’tnotice when it counted the most. When they couldn’t reach either of the women, Matt instinctively started to worry. He retraced that morning in his head and the vision replayed in slow motion. Her hand shook with every move she made. Her eyes seemed like they were looking for a place to settle or escape. Her entire body seemed to be quivering as if she was coming down with a fever. But the vision that kept coming back to him was how he would look away every time because of the exact reason that Ben had just accused him of.
“I knew she was upset, I just—”
Ben shook his head as if confused. “Upset? I think we all knew Liz was a little more than upset the other night, Matt.”
Matt fumed but he couldn’t risk Liz walking in on this. “Don’t blame her for this. Megan will be alright.”
Ben advanced on his brother. “Let’s get something clear here Matt, I wouldneverblame Liz for this. The only person to be held responsible for that woman possibly never remembering who she is—is you.” He pointed a finger at Matt and then huffed turning his hand into a fist and dropping it, as if he were fighting the anger snapping through him. After a short second, he dropped his head and turned to walk away.
Matt’s pulse was now drubbing with anger. He circled around Ben and pressed a finger into his brother’s chest, seizing him in place.
“Don’t you dare come at me with your fucking accusations. You don’t know anything about what Liz was going through. Don’t act like you do.” He pushed his finger against Ben harder as the rage intensified. “Don’t come near me or my Lizzy again,” he warned.
Ben shrugged and raised an eyebrow. “Fine, if that’s what it takes. I’m just glad that you’re planning to work things out with her, once she finally…comes back.”
Matt drew back. “I never said that.” He glanced at Megan’s room and decided it wasn’t the best time. He needed to get out of there and clear his head.
Hours later Matt returned to the hospital. He had gone back to their house and grabbed a change of clothes for Liz. He knew she’d been uncomfortable walking around in that flimsy gown. He could tell earlier that morning that she was struggling with it. He considered just going to a nearby store to grab something quick, but decided that she’d probably feel more comfortable and more like herself in her own clothes. Maybe it wouldn’t help, but it definitely wouldn’t hurt.
He got out of the elevator on Liz’s floor. The long, glossy tiled hallway was filled with patients, nurses, technicians, one or two doctors and an endless number of oncoming things on wheels. Beds, supply carts, bassinettes, equipment. He was surprised he’d even caught a glimpse of the man with the short brown hair and unkempt facial hair.
Marcus.
Liz’s brother was standing by the reception desk. Matt wasn’t close enough to hear, but saw the young woman point in the direction of Liz’s room. Matt glanced at his watch. The guy lived an hour away. Why would it take him nearly five hours to get here?
“Marcus,” Matt called.
“Matt. Hey, I’m sorry, I tried to get here earlier, I ran into a problem with the—”
“Are you ok?”
“Yeah, I’m great. Listen, I just want to go see her. I need to see her.”
“Whoa, whoa, Marc, you can’t go in there like that. Okay, you need to pull yourself together. Liz needs all of us to be strong and not emotional wrecks.” He stopped and lightly grabbed Marcus’s shoulder to make him face him and silently ask if he was ready.
“So, what I can’t tell her that I love her and I’d been worried about her?”
“Of course you can. Just take it easy.” He started walking again. “Just follow my lead.” He turned toward his wife’s room.
Now it was Marcus who stopped him. “Matt, I don’t need your help,” Marcus said calmly and confidently. There was no smirk or sarcasm or anything. It was as serious as Matt had ever seen Liz’s reckless and immature little brother be.
