Page 57 (1/2)

Jack nodded again He stood up, and Dad did, too, and Jack hugged his father Dad, as as solid and enduring as an oak tree "I don’t want you to worry about me, Dad," he whispered

"That’s ridiculous," Dadhim back "I’m your father Mrs J’s your stepmother Your sisters adore you, and you’ve always been here for us Let us take care of you for once"

HONOR HAD A LIST, of course, complete with phone numbers, emails and office hours "Come on, brother," she said after she handed it to him "Let’s walk up to the cemetery" She clipped the leash on Spike, who bounced and pranced and bit Jack’s boot

The night was cool, but spring was co to tap the trees so they could ather for the blessing of the crops Pops was still with them, Faith and Levi’s baby would be here, To with theuessed

Honor opened the gate to the cemetery, and they sat on one of the benches There were flowers on Moonna lecture me, too?" Jack asked

"I’h his

"True" Her dog nuzzled its way into Jack’s coat "You and Tom seem happy"

"Thanks We are"

"Charlie, too"

"He’s pretty great" She leaned her head against his shoulder "I was surprised you and Em broke up," she said "She see through his door, a smile on her face, rolled over Jack like a truck Her in the bathtub, up to her neck in suds In the hotel roo with her teenagers

"I didn’t really plan on this," he admitted "It’s not like it ith Hadley"

"Thank God," Honor said, her tone dry

"If I ask you a question, will you tell the rest of the Coven?"

"It depends on how ed his arm "No, of course I won’t tell"

"How did you knoith Toood, because unlike his other two sisters, itabout the raw ani dreauess it was pretty simple I pictured what I wanted in the future, and he was it His sh, his voice I couldn’t see me with anyone else We, umwe didn’t have the most typical start, but when it caht with Eht at his house He’d cooked dinner, and she told hiotten into Barb Nelson’s china cabinet, and the subsequent rubble the rodent caused Jack had laughed long and hard when she told hiun so he wouldn’t shoot the wee beastie, Barb snapping pictures for the newspaper They’d watched a movie after dinner Well, half ait on the couch, Eht, except it was perfect

"I screwed up with her," Jack said "I’uy Of course you screwed up It goes with the territory" She straightened up "But you’ll et back to the house Tree Bark Man is on, and I don’t want to miss it Why don’t you co

Jereet to the hospital?" Jeremy said "Gloria Deiner wants to see you, and you should co up "Sorry, Honor I have to run Another tiht?" she asked

"I think so I’ll see you tomorrow"

THE ELEVATOR DOORS OPENED to the fourth floor Jere oddly official in his white doctor’s coat "Josh is winding down," he said without prea to take him off life support, and Gloria asked to see you"

"Okay"

"You ready for this, Jack?"

"No But yes" In fact, his heart was pounding, and his T-shirt was daave his shoulder a squeeze and led the way down the dimly lit hallway "Gloria? Jack’s here," he said outside rooe, and then Mr Deiner came out He nodded at Jack, his eyes wet, and went down the hall

"Coo stay with Alan," Jeremy said He lowered his voice "Good luck"

Jack went in

And there he was For the first time in all these weeks, Jack saw Josh Deiner, the boy whose life he didn’t save

What was left of Josh, that was Weeks on a feeding tube, weeks of profound brain da had reduced Josh to near-skeletal proportions

Jack looked at Mrs Deiner, as staring at her son "Mrs Deiner?"

She didn’t look at hiht want to see him," she said

"Yes," Jack said, then cleared his throat "Thank you"

"Then have a seat," she said Her voice was oddly cal is the last thing to go"