With the first flight of the morning, Juniper flew to the capital. Three hours later, she landed and checked into a hotel. After freshening up, she headed straight to the hospital where Edward had been admitted.
Her pace faltered in the lobby when she spotted Cillian speaking with a doctor about Edward's deteriorating health. As his gaze landed on Juniper, he whispered a final word to the physician, who walked away with a nurse.
"June!" he called out, giving her a small wave.
She walked over to him, her expression guarded. "I hope I'm not late."
"No, you're not," Cillian replied, gesturing toward a door down the hall. "Dad is inside."
Juniper gave a tight nod, clutching a bouquet of flowers and a box of health drinks. She walked into the room, followed closely by Cillian.
The sight of Edward stopped her heart for a beat; he lay motionless on the bed, various tubes connected to both forearms and an oxygen cannula resting in his nose.
