Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 215

Shooting the breeze really made time fly. Just as I was getting ready to leave the hospital room, my phone in the bag started buzzing.

To my surprise, it was Cecilia on the other end of the line.

I stepped away from Jason and walked down the corridor before hitting answer.

“Xaviera, you busy? Can you swing by the hospital?”

The shaky voice of Cecilia pressed against my ear; there was panic mixed with urgency in her voice.

I suddenly got a bad feeling and asked, “What’s up?”

“Just the soup,” Cecilia cautiously began, “You know, the fish soup you taught me to make? I brought it over for your aunt, she tried, but she was still not happy with the taste.” “Get Xaviera over here now!” Hilary’s angry voice suddenly cut in. “I want to ask her myself!”

Having pondered for two seconds, I roughly pieced together what had gone down.

hunch that she’d use it to score brownie points with Hilary, but what I didn’t see coming was that I would have to

if Hilary liked it, Cecilia would be showered

I had no clue what could be wrong with the fish soup; I’d have to see it for myself to know.

can you make it?”

there was no dodging this bullet, I replied softly,

later, I showed up at the top–notch hospital room.

Jason’s simple triple, this place was spacious with an expansive view, complete with huge floor–to–ceiling windows. Looking out, you could see Rivertown Bay in the distance. If you didn’t know any better,

in that comfy hospital bed with a face like thunder.

by with a’look of distress, and

her head low, with her eyes red–rimmed, the picture of misery. When I walked in, all three sets of eyes turned to me. I glanced at Cecilia,

the image of

me. She lifted her arm and said, There’s Xaviera, come here, come here.”

walked over calmly, eyeing the insulated jug and the soup spilled all over the table, and smiled, “Haven’t had dinner yet?”

on the bowl of fish soup and asked,

nodded, “Director Irwin really wanted to make sure you had a soup to your liking, so she asked me for advice. She put