Lawrence Winters had just gotten off the plane and headed straight for the hospital here.
She was still wearing the casual clothes from the flight: khaki capris, white soft-soled shoes, a loose gray pullover sweatshirt reaching her thighs, sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her fair arms, a common ladies' watch on her left wrist, along with her engagement ring.
She hadn't dressed up seriously, her long hair was tied into a bun, and after several hours of flying and driving, some strands were loose at her temples.
A few strands fell by her cheeks, and she raised her hand to tuck the hair behind her ear, then carefully took off her engagement ring and placed it in her pocket.
Then she turned off her phone, put it in her suitcase, and left it in an unobtrusive corner of the hospital room.
As she walked toward the elevator, she raised her wrist to check the time.
It was exactly seven in the morning.
While walking, she quickly estimated in her mind.
