Helsinki Sunrise by Marion Ueckermann Page A

family?”
    Eveliina turned back. “Yes. I’m his future wife.” Her words felt fated. Could they be prophetic?
    “What’s your name, honey?” As if her accent wasn’t enough proof, Mary Smith sounded pure American using that term of endearment. Eveliina had heard it in so many Hollywood movies.
    She stiffened. Was Mary Smith trying to sweeten her before being the bearer of bad news?
    “Eveliina.”
    “I’m sorry, Eveliina, but you won’t be allowed into Intensive Care looking like you just lost a paintball game. It’s a sterile environment.” Her eyes filled with empathy. “Looks like whatever happened to your fiancé caught you unawares.”
    “You could say that.”
    “Do you live nearby?”
    “Just a few miles away.”
    Mary’s mouth tilted upward on both sides, like a crescent. “Why don’t you go home? Shower, have some dinner, get some rest? You look like you’ve been through a lot.”
    “But Adam…”
    “Let me have your cell number. I’ll make sure you’re called the moment anything in his condition changes.” She placed a pen and paper on the counter.
    Eveliina eyed her, uncertain. Could she trust this foreigner? But what choice did she have? She snapped up the pen and scribbled down her name and number.
     
    ****
     
    The shower water mingled with her tears, filling Eveliina with an eerie sense of déjà vu. Instantly, she was back beside Adam in the mud, rain and tears flowing down her face. She scrubbed her skin. Nothing would keep her from seeing Adam once she returned to the hospital. She hadn’t wanted to wash away their last moments together, but she needed to be at his side. Besides, with her mind clearer now, Eveliina realized it was a silly notion to want to walk around painted for the rest of her life. Fact was, if she wanted to be with Adam, she’d have to clean up—not only on the outside, but the inside, too.
    The moment she stepped out of the shower, she checked her phone to see if the hospital had called. Disappointment wrapped around her like a burial cloth. Only more missed calls from Joel. She’d ignored the ringing of her phone in the car from the lake to the hospital—hadn’t returned the calls. She’d do the same now. He was the last person she wanted to speak to.
    But she needed to call Mikko and let him know what was happening.
    Once she’d seen Adam and spoken to his doctor.
     
    ****
     
    “Back so soon?”
    Eveliina managed to smile for Mary Smith. “I told you I live close by.”
    “You clean up nicely, but you didn’t take any time to rest. Did you at least have something to eat?”
    Mary’s concern was motherly, and Eveliina’s heart ached at the remembrance of what she’d lost out on. She squeezed her eyes tight, desperate to shut out the memory of her mother. After all these years, it still hurt so much. Maammo, how I miss you. I need you so much right now. I’m so afraid. She could call her grandmother, but even though she’d practically raised Eveliina, it wasn’t the same as having her mother’s comforting arms wrapped around her.
    “I— I don’t think I could stomach food right now. I’ll get something later at the coffee shop if I’m hungry.” Resting her palms on the counter, Eveliina leaned toward Mary. “Has there been any word on Adam?”
    “I’ve been checking with Intensive Care so I could give you an update.” Mary’s grin revealed a straight row of unblemished teeth. Did all Americans have perfect smiles? Eveliina thought it was only in the movies. She’d have to change her thinking.
    “They’ve settled him in ICU, but there’s been no change in his condition.”
    “Can I see him?”
    “Of course. You might even bump into Dr. Karjanlahti.” The ease with which Mary pronounced the difficult Finnish surname made Eveliina realize the American had probably been living in her country for quite some time.
    “He normally does his rounds about now.”
    Eveliina looked at the clock on the wall behind Mary.