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His assistant editor, Steve Fullerton, ca an insulated coffee cup "Listen, Jack I need to talk to you about the Lifestyle feature We couldn’t get the photos and…" He grinned widely "Hey, I’lad you’re back"

"Thanks" Jack was embarrassed by the fuss his staff had made His desk was covered with flowers and cards, and they’d hung a banner overhead with gold letters that said Welcome Back It was nice to know he’d been missed

By ten, he was co out a daily paper It seemed as if he’d never been away He wrote an editorial and praised the quick response of the local EMTs who’d saved his life His fingers flew on the keyboard He’d always composed his best editorials under time constraints; in fact, Jack had spent un and thrived with the pressure--or so he’d once believed This recent scare made him rethink that assumption

At noon, the Lifestyle article had to be du new and there was a one o’clock deadline Olivia would be furious if he stayed longer than he’d proainst his inclination to pitch in with everyone else Jack was still trying to decide what to do when Bob Beldon strolled in

"Jack," Bob said, heading straight for Jack’s desk "I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by, see how you’re doing"

Jack frowned Bob just happened to be in the neighborhood Not likely He knew this visit was no accident "Olivia sent you, didn’t she?"

A chagrined look spread over Bob’s face and he nodded

"That’s what I figured" Leave it to his wife

"She said I was to drag you out of here kicking and screa to roaned in protest, but Bob was the best friend he’d ever have in this life He knehen he was beat Gru under his breath, he turned off his computer, then stood and reached for his jacket He just hoped his wife and his friend kne hard it was for him to walk away in the middle of a crisis

The staff looked on in disbelief He’d never abandoned them, never left before every deadline was met, every detail attended to Steve Fullerton actually started a round of applause, and Jack gave aon his way out the door

"See you tomorrow, old man," Steve called "Try to stay alive for another few days"

Jack wouldn’t ad his recovery, Olivia had insisted he take a nap every afternoon In the beginning he’d defied her because he resented being "ordered around like a kid" Little good that did him, since he fell asleep anyway, and always slept at least an hour

"What am I supposed to do withlot

"I thought I’d invite e It’s been a while"

The last co too hard for too long The job hadn’t started out like that, and yet within five years he’d e sounds like a fine idea," Jack said "Just proentle with me My skills are pretty rusty"

"No e and I’ to be" Jack laughed It felt good to be with his friend, as also his AA sponsor and all-around mentor

Fifteen otten as Jack stared at the cards in his hand, deciding which two to discard He chewed on the end of a toothpick, a habit Olivia detested, and set aside the six and the three

The phone interrupted his concentration "Ten bucks says that’s Olivia checking to see if I’ over the top of his cards

Bob chuckled "You’re on"

Jack grabbed for the receiver "Yes, sweetheart?"

Olivia gave a sasp "How’d you knoasthat Bob should pay up "Lucky guess," he answered his wife "I’ after me"

"Bob is not your babysitter"

"Anored the question "How did it go at the office?"

"Great, really great" He dared not let her knoback at work The frantic pace stimulated him Afternoon naps--even if he needed them--didn’t

"Are you tired?"

He s here in the e with Bob Beldon There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing"

Not true He’d rather be at work--orlove to his wife--but that was another area that appeared to be taboo since his surgery The only time he’d mentioned the possibility, Olivia was the one who damn near had a heart attack Absolutely no sex Apparently even talking about it was off liure, he’d been cut off for the rest of his natural life Sex wasn’t all, either He hadn’t seen a piece of red ested "You sound a little cranky"

There she went again, treating hiet back to work?" he asked, hoping to get her off the phone before he lost his temper

"Not really--I’aiven Bob instructions on how long he should stay Although Olivia’s actions were proery felt like a noose being tightened around his neck