Chapter 73

Elise carried the same canvas bag she'd had for years. It was sturdy, spacious, and virtually stain-proof. She'd never bothered to change it, and as a result, it still held a small stash of medicine. She went upstairs immediately to find Samuel. From outside the room, she could hear Lucas' weak whimper, saying, "Dad, my tummy hurts." Samuel's voice was cool and composed, yet faintly gentle. "The doctor's on his way." Elise opened the door, poured a glass of warm water, and knelt beside Lucas. She slipped a pill into his mouth, but he spat it out and clamped down on her finger in protest. She drew in a sharp breath. Patience gone, her tone turned stern. "If you don't want your stomach to hurt, then swallow the medicine!" Startled, Lucas opened his mouth, and Elise took the chance to push the pill in and make him drink water. When he finally swallowed, her taut nerves eased a little. She might not want him in her life anymore, but she couldn't just stand by and watch him suffer. G