It wasn''t until Noreen was leaving the nephrology department with Rosalind Gilmore after her check-up that the thought finally struck her.
Why was Seth Harcourt at the nephrology department for an exam?
As she recalled, routine physicals didn''t typically include specialized kidney function tests.
"He probably just wanted a moreprehensive check-up," she reasoned, not dwelling on it any further.
It was as if a voice in her head kept whispering, "Noreen, don''t look back."
Even so, she felt a lingering unease on the drive back.
So much so that when she got out of the car to grab the medical reports from the front seat, she identally snapped the lucky charm hanging from the rearview mirror.
Sophia Cole had gotten it for her when she bought her first car.
She had changed cars several times since then, but each time, Sophia would carefully remove the charm and hang it in the new vehicle.
Noreen didn''t think much of it, but Rosalind, who was with her, grew instantly anxious, seeing it as a bad omen.
Noreen understood. The older generation tended to be superstitious about such things.
Rosalind said, "Give that to me. I''ll go to the Sanctuary of Tranquil Light in Southmont tomorrow to make a thank offering and get you a new one."
"I''ll go myself when I have time," Noreen replied, not wanting to put her through the
trouble. Rosalind''s health was too frail for that kind of exertion.
"Then you must promise you''ll go make an offering," Rosalind insisted, still repeating her warning as she got out of the car.
She only seemed to rx after Noreen gave her a firm promise.
After dropping Rosalind off at her ce, Noreen went back to the office to workte.
When Sophia brought her a coffee, she noticed the broken charm lying on the desk and asked about it.
Noreen exined that she had identally broken it. She was busy and didn''t borate.
Not wanting to disturb her, Sophia quietly left the office.
Noreen was swamped for the next few days, with two projects in the IPO preparation phase.
By the time she remembered the lucky charm, another week had passed.
She happened to have some free time that day, but the weather wasn''t cooperating -the first cold, damp rain of autumn had arrived.
Noreen met with Carman Holt to discuss the future of InnoCore.
After listening to her analysis, Carman finally seemed swayed, saying he would go back and try to persuade Jasmine.
But Noreen didn''t hold out much
hope. She knew Carman all too well.
He was easily influenced and
couldn''t stand up to Jasmine''s
pillow talk. Otherwise, Jasmine
wouldn''t have managed to seize the majority of control at innoCore
within just two years.
Noreen could ept this kind of temporary partnership, but she couldn''t help feeling a little wistful about it.
"Let''s go to Southmont," Noreen said to Colby after sitting in the car for a long while.
By the time they reached Southmont, the rain wasing down even harder.
Since it wasn''t a weekend, and with the downpour, the sanctuary was nearly deserted.
Noreen stepped out under an umbre and walked toward the entrance. A monk responsible for greeting visitors bowed to her and asked the purpose of her visit.
Noreen told him she was there to make a thank offering.
The monk led her inside, their path taking them through a grove of trees.
In the middle of the woodsy a flight of 99 stone steps, worn smooth by countless devout pilgrims.
Today, the entire forest was silent.
As they approached the steps, Noreen instinctively nced over. This ce held memories for her, too.
Rain and mist shrouded the woods, blurring everything in sight. But even through the haze, she could clearly. see someone kneeling in pious prayer on the steps above.
Even the monk leading her paused, his gaze fixed on the figure bowing with every
single step. "Coming to pray for a charm in this cold?" he murmured.
Then he added, "But I suppose this shows greater sincerity. The charm will be all the more potent."
Noreen''s legs suddenly felt like they were filled with lead, and she found she couldn''t move.