4
DAHLIA FELT HERSELF reeling from the news. She touched the bedside table and sank onto the bed. “Verena, how is my grandmother? How bad was the stroke?” Kevin quickly receded from her mind. She could hear a commotion in the background through the transatlantic phone line.
“It’s affected her entire right side,” Verena replied. “She was admitted to Cedars Sinai. I’m here at the hospital with Mia and Pierre. Camille is having tests now.”
“I’ll catch the next flight I can.” Dahlia forced the words from her constricted throat. Camille was the only family she had, or rather, the only family that cared anything about her. “Will you call me when she’s back in the room? I want to talk to her before I get on the plane.”
There was a long hesitation. Verena began to speak, but her voice caught.
