Just as Wilfred had said—both girls were allergic to chocolate. Severely. He'd always been meticulous about keeping anything with cocoa away from them.
But the cake Patrick brought tonight had been loaded with it.
Hildegarde pulled Hilary close.
"Wilfred! Hilary's having a reaction!"
Silence.
Then she remembered. Wilfred was gone. He'd taken Penelope and left.
She had no choice but to call the housekeeper.
"Ma'am, what happened to the little miss?"
The housekeeper's face went pale at the sight of Hilary's swollen skin.
"Allergic reaction," Hildegarde said.
"But how? Mr. Dickerson was always so careful about what they ate. He never let them near anything with cocoa."
"Enough! Do you know where he kept the allergy medication?"
Hildegarde's patience snapped.
"I... I don't know." The housekeeper shook her head helplessly. "Mr. Dickerson always took care of the girls himself. He kept the medicine. I have no idea where it is."
Ever since the two girls were born, Wilfred had treated them like precious treasures, afraid they might melt if he so much as breathed on them. Everything related to the children—medicine, supplies, schedules—he kept under his personal care. No one else was allowed to touch any of it.
Not even the housekeeper.
"Fine, I'll call him."
Hildegarde pulled out her phone and dialed Wilfred's number.
The number you have dialed is no longer in service.
"How dare he!"
"Wilfred, you bastard! You actually blocked my number!"
Rage flickered in Hildegarde's bright eyes.
There was no mistake—she'd been blocked. Otherwise, it wouldn't have given that message.
"That bastard. Does he think I can't take care of Hilary without him?"
"Go find it! Search everywhere! I refuse to believe he hid the allergy medicine in the sky."
Marjorie rushed to the adjoining room and began tearing through drawers and cabinets.
Nothing.
Hilary's condition was getting worse by the minute. Left with no choice, Hildegarde had Marjorie carry the child to the car and drove through the night to Children's Hospital.
After a round of emergency treatment, Hilary's allergic reaction was finally under control.
The little girl lay on the hospital bed, her small body looking pitiful.