I watched Gavin's face shift from tension to confusion as he returned to the corridor. The powerful Uncle Jasper hadn't followed him into Mrs. Johnson's room.
"Where's your uncle?" I whispered.
Gavin shook his head, clearly bewildered. "He stopped right outside the door. He won't come in."
My curiosity getting the better of me, I slipped past him to peek through the small window in the door. Sure enough, Uncle Jasper stood in the corridor, tall and imposing in his perfectly tailored suit. His silver hair caught the harsh hospital lighting, and his face—strong-jawed and severe—was turned away from the room.
"What's going on?" Nathaniel appeared at my side, his warm breath tickling my ear.
"I don't know," I admitted. "But something's not right."
Gavin approached his uncle cautiously. Through the glass, I could see their interaction, though I couldn't hear the words.
"Uncle Jasper," Gavin said, "won't you come in? Mrs. Johnson is just inside."
