Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

Just as Elysia was about to answer, a sharp female voice echoed from the hallway outside.

"I told you, you can't see him, and that's final! Cry all you want, it won't change anything. Those are the rules!"

"I've never dealt with such unreasonable family members. I said he's just in quarantine, not dead already! What's there to cry about?"

"If you waste any more of our time, and we don't find a cure because of it, it'll be on you!"

Another woman's voice broke in, shaky and pleading.

"Today is my child's birthday. She just wants to see her dad, even if it's just from behind the glass. Can't you let us do that?"

"No! How many times do I have to say it—no means no! If you keep pestering me,

I'll have security throw you out! God, you're exhausting!"

Suddenly the woman snapped, and the little girl burst into loud sobs.

Elysia frowned and stepped out into the hallway.

There were three people: two women and a child.

One of the women was in her twenties, dressed in a white lab coat-clearly medical staff.

The other, about forty, was clutching a five- or six-year-old girl to her chest-a mother and daughter, clearly.

The younger woman spotted Elysia coming out of the room and immediately shot her a suspicious glare, looking her up and down.

"Who are you? Why are you in the records room?!"

Elysia didn't have the chance to answer before the older woman hurried over, still holding her crying child.

"You're with the doctors working on the virus, right?" she begged, tears streaming down her face. "Please, have a heart. Let us see her dad, just for a moment. It's her birthday—she doesn't want presents, she just wants to see her father..."

"I know the virus is contagious, we'd stay behind the glass! We just want to see him, please. We're so worried about him. I'm begging you."

The little girl, dressed in a frilly princess dress, clung to her mother's neck, her eyes red and puffy.

"I want Daddy! I want Daddy! I want Daddy..." she wailed.

It all clicked for Elysia-this was the family of that infected male doctor. Because the virus was so contagious, he was still in strict isolation. But now that his family knew what was really happening, shouldn't they at least be allowed to see him through the glass? That was just basic compassion.noveldrama

Elysia couldn't understand the hospital's reasoning. She started to explain, "I'm sorry, I'm not a doctor, I-"

"You're not a doctor? Then how did you get into the records room? Who are you, a reporter?" the young woman snapped, cutting her off with a harsh, suspicious tone.

"I'm warning you: this virus is still classified. If you leak anything, you'll be in serious trouble. We're talking prison time."

Elysia tried to keep calm. "I'm not a reporter, I—”

But the woman interrupted her again, voice rising.

"If you're not a reporter, what are you? Who let you in? What were you doing in

there? You'd better start talking, or I'm calling the cops right now!"

Elysia just stared at her, exasperated. Who interrupts people this much? Has she ever heard of basic manners?

And wasn't she supposed to be the angel in the white coat? What a joke.

Elysia's patience snapped. "Dr. Benjamin told me to come here."

The woman's brows knit together. "Dr. Benjamin? Benjamin? Why would he send you?"

Elysia shot back, "And who are you? Why should I explain myself to you?"

With a haughty flick, the woman pointed to her own ID badge.

"Take a good look. I'm with the Medical & Pharmaceutical Association. I'm the lead on this virus investigation."

Elysia glanced down at the badge: Sabrina Stevenson, Medical & Pharmaceutical Association.

Sabrina-Elysia couldn't help but think of sage, the herb.

Sabrina squared her shoulders, looking even more self-important.

"I don't care what your connection to Dr. Benjamin is. You entered the records

room without our permission, so I have every right to question you. Now answer me, and don't even think about lying!"