Page 53 (2/2)

X-rays, consultations, broken bones, stitches Diseases, rashes, infections, viruses One awful diagnosis after another, but Vincent preferred it to thein his head

For as many lives as he’d destroyed, as many people as he’d watched die, there were countless others he’d saved And as exhausted as he was, somewhere in the mound of files in front of hi of death away

If only for a little while

37

The war Carolina heat as July dawned Triple-digit te up thunderstorain, flickering in the night sky, as a sense of contentment settled over Haven

She ventured outside with Carh the backyard in her bare feet She clih sprinklers, and all the while Cared her on His support becale day without hionna be late, bro?" Dominic asked as he walked into the fahed exasperatedly, having asked that saet Carmine to leave for the past thirty e

Carhed "Scared you’ll get hurt?"

"I’o"

Car like he had any intention ofHe was scheduled to attend football ca away and talked incessantly about what he would do when he was there, and she had listened, although she didn’t knohat encroachment or interference or any of that other stuffwith her

But this , when Haven opened her eyes, there was no smile on Carmine’s lips None of the excitement was present any back to her

"You have to go," she said at the sa: "I’"

He pretended to be interested in the television, but she could see his eyes drifting to the clock Ti out He was supposed to be at the University of North Carolina by five to check in and it was already past one

"I’ll still be here when you get back"

His eyes snapped in her direction "Of course you will Where else would you be?"

She sighed--that was the wrong thing to say

"Don’t worry about her,up behind the to keep her so busy she won’t even realize you’re gone"

Haven set her in more trouble than she could ever find on her own," Carhed "If you aren’t going, you er flashed across his face "You don’t knohat you’re talking about"

"Afraid she can’t hack it without you?"

"I know she can"

"So why aren’t you going?"

Carlared at him but didn’t respond

The front door opened, and Dr DeMarco paused in the entrance to the fa his attention on Car to be late?"

Caret off o in a minute"

Dr DeMarco walked ahile Dominic punched Carmine on the shoulder "That’s it, be a man! The sooner you leave, the sooner Haven and I can start having fun"

Carain didn’t respond to his brother Dominic walked out, and Carmine pulled Haven to him "I’d hide you in my suitcase and take you with oals and play sooals And it’s running plays, not playing runs"

"Oh Well, go quarterback"

He laughed and let go of her "Don’t let that cafoneyou don’t wanna do"

"Okay It’s only a week, so I’ll be fine" She wasn’t sure who she was reassuring ertips across her cheek, and kissed her one final ti "I’ll see you later"

"Good-bye, Car his steps falter as his shoulders tensed She thought he was going to turn around and say so his head

She sat quietly in the farabbed his stuff and headed for the front door "You’re definitely going to be late," his father said froh?"

Carht without his presence Haven tiptoed inside and snatched his favorite pillow off his bed before running to her rooled with it His fa her like a warm shroud

Haven closed her eyes and pleaded for sleep to come quickly