Listen to the Shadows by Joan Hall Hovey

ears like Niagara Falls, and her body enveloped in a cold sweat, Katie could only nod, feeling as if the strength were slowly being sapped from her body by some unseen force.
    “Place your head between your knees and take nice deep breaths,” the nurse advised. Katie obeyed, and gradually the spinning room slowed, her heartbeat returned to normal. A long shudder of breath escaped her.
    “Okay?” the nurse asked.
    “I—I think so. Can’t say I wasn’t forewarned, can I?”
    She slid her damp palms down the sides of her nightshirt. “Whew. That was awful. I’ve never fainted before. It’s not anything like in the movies, is it?”
    The nurse smiled. “Hardly. But then, few things ever are, right?”
    After a minute or two, she said, “Do you think you can make it over to the chair now? Do you feel up to it?”
    Katie listened closely to her body, then said yes, and began to ease herself off the bed and place her feet again on the floor.
    “Take your time. Just lean on me.”
    She didn’t need any coaxing. Wary now after her sickening experience, she stood slowly. And felt relieved when the room didn’t move. Taking small, careful steps, and with the nurse’s support, at last she was across the mile of floor and settled into the big olive green chair. The vinyl upholstery was cool on her skin, and Katie had to laugh as she tucked the two ends of her nightshirt beneath her bottom. “I feel absolutely naked. You know, it just occurred to me I don’t have a darned thing to wear other than this God-awful hospital gown.”
    The nurse grinned slyly and knelt to the overnight case at her feet. “Oh, I think you do,” she said, beginning to undo the small, gold-plated buckle. “He said everything you need should be in here.” She glanced up at a puzzled Katie. “Shall I open it?”
    “Are you sure it’s for me?”
    “Absolutely. The gentleman was quite anxious that it be delivered to you right away.”
    Pleasantly surprised, assuming that this was her friend Jason’s doing, Katie gestured to the nurse to go ahead and open the case. Jason, knowing where Katie kept an extra key, must have driven out to the house and picked up some of her things. Odd. It wasn’t like Jason to be so practical on his own. Thoughtful, yes. Sweet, yes. But practical…? Well, she mustn’t underestimate him in the future. The bag must be his. It certainly wasn’t hers. “Did my friend leave a name?” Katie asked, fully expecting to hear the name “Jason Belding”.
    Linda Ring unzipped the case and opened it, releasing the scent of new leather which wafted up to Katie.
    “Drake Devlin,” Linda said, as she removed a pair of gold brocade slippers from the case and fit them over Katie’s feet. Then she was holding up a creamy luxurious robe for Katie’s viewing, oblivious to the stunned expression on her patient’s face. “Isn’t this absolutely the most gorgeous thing you’ve ever seen your entire life?” she breathed, struggling with the yards of skirt.
    There was nothing here of hers. Everything was brand new, and far more expensive than anything Katie could ever have afforded. “It is beautiful,” she agreed, watching in astonishment as the nurse delved back into the case. With all the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning, she held up, one after the other, three peignoir sets, all satin and lace in delicate shades of pastel. Eyes glittering, she handled each with the reverence of a pirate finding treasure. When these were sufficiently admired she returned them and withdrew a teal-blue drawstring bag from the case. “Wow!” she said, peering inside. “French perfume, makeup…he wouldn’t happen to have a brother, by any chance.”
    Katie gave a nervous laugh. “No, I don’t think so. Anyway, I certainly can’t keep any of this.”
    The nurse raised dark, surprised eyes. “Why not?”
    Despite her amazement, which was gradually turning to anger, Katie had to laugh. “Because this stuff must have cost a