Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary

Two nights later, Laurel had already undressed in her room at The Hibiscus, but somehow felt compelled to get dressed again to get back to the hospital. She was lucky to have found a cab at the foot of the hotel steps because it was the middle of Mardi Gras and the town and its streets were a snarled mess.

When she reached her father's room, she could hear Fay's tight little voice saying that enough was enough! She continued in her high-pitched squeal that this was her birthday! Then Laurel saw the night nurse run into her father's room and reappear dragging Fay with her. Fay broke free from the nurse, came running down the hallway, bumped into Laurel as if she weren't even there and passed into the waiting room like a frantic child looking for her mother.

The...