"Oh." That rang a bell, sort of. "What . . . what day is it?"
He told her. "You've been under sedation since late yesterday, Ally. But Dr. Vee says your test data show you're responding—"
"Mom's here, right?" Now things were starting to come back. "How's she doing? Is she—"
"He's talking about discharging her by the end of next week, even before the NIH clinical trials are officially over." Grant tried a smile. "By then, he thinks the procedure will have replaced enough tissue in her brain that she might not even need a caregiver. She's doing crosswords again. Need I say more."
"My God." Now she remembered how on‑again, off‑again Nina's mind had been when she brought her out to the institute. Had she really been given a second chance? And so quickly? If so, it was truly astonishing.
But now she found herself staring at Grant, mesmerized. Something about him seemed oddly off.
"Grant, what... what's going on with you?"
"I've . . ." He was hesitating. "I've been thinking about everything. Now I really wish I hadn't done what I did."
"What are you talking about?" This kind of revisionist remorse didn't sound like the Grant she knew.
"Have you seen Kristen? They said you know about her, were asking about her." Then he stepped back. "Do you know about her?"