Page 34 (1/2)

"Hey, Dad," he said weakly

He looked like hell--dark circles under his eyes, his face swollen and still pale But his heart was beating, and that was all thatup onto my bed and into my lap "Hey, Travis"

"Hey, Hannie," hethe phone on the side so he could see both Hannah and roaned

My stomach pitched, but Charlotte immediately reat His BP is steady, pulse ox is co up, and his EKG looks better than any of us had hoped He’s still a little groggy and tired from the medication, but as soon as that wears off, he should start feeling better"

"Okay Good," I whispered when I didn’t trust my voice

God, this sucked In all of the tione to the hospital, I’d always been the one to go with hied ani for permission to see my own da the ca open in slu to ta insideto talk to Charlotte for a minute and then I’ll be out"

"Okay," she chirped "Bye, Charlotte"

"Goodnight, Hannah I’ll see you soon"

Hannah started to climb off the bed, but then she froze and leaned back into the frareen, Daddy brings it hohed "I’ll be sure to set it aside for you"

Hannah nodded and then wandered out of the rooainst the headboard Once I was settled, I asked, "How are you holding up?"

She quietly h the hospital room and into the bathroom, where she shut the door "I’ better, Porter"

"Like, good enough to maybe come home?" Even I heard the hope in ht Of course," I said, pretending like I hadn’t been stabbed in the gut

"He’s going to get a heart, Porter I can feel it"

"I’ these days but a whole lot of worry and dread," I replied, swinging s over the side of the bed But I found ht, Porter," she whispered

I shookwith, like, an actual vegetable Mom dropped her off earlier and I swear she had a lollipop stuck in her hair I love randkids seriously"

She stared at ht outside, Charlotte I could turn all the lights in the house off and it wouldn’t never be dark enough"

"Okay You want to talk in the light?"

Suddenly, a lued in my throat and I had to force the words around it "Is this the light? Because it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it"

"Everything is going to be okay He’s asleep, baby I feel really good about his stats--as a mother and a doctor"

I shook ood yesterday I was lecturing you on holding on to the happy ti the fears to consu that it was a bunch of bullshit Just because you don’t think about the future doesn’t mean it won’t one day beco time with Travis And I still feel like it came out of nowhere" I turned my face away fro my cheek on my shoulder