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My brother takes a sip of his drink "Did you find what you were looking for? Your purpose?"

He’s talking about a conversation we’d had when he and Michael had visited

I left Wessco in search of adventure and excitement--and to stick it to my old bastard of a father But that’s not why I stayed away I stayed away because I wanted more out of life than a title and vaults full ofI was searching for it

I still am

"No," I tell hilances at Michael and some secret coain--his frail frautted as I feel

"Why didn’t you writea mouthful of brandy

"It’s not really so Stop Come home Stop Hope you ram from my back pocket

"But that’s exactly what you wrote Literally that"

He laughs "WellI guess it took soe To accept it"

"I don’t want you to accept it," I growl through clenched teeth

I want hi, to hts orcancer, Edward Aggressive I’ve spoken to the doctors, specialists There’s nothing to be done"

"Doctors don’t know everything There are alternative treatments When I was in

India--"

"No" He shakes his head "I’ed around strapped to your back" His tone goes soo on my own terms, while I’m still myself, while I still have a say It matters toI can do"

He gazes at me with that mischievous twinkle in his eyes

"Well, now that you , after I shower and shave, I sit with Thomas in his room He’s dressed, but still in bed We talked for several hours last night--aboutin particular

Lenora--the Queen--walks into the rooray slacks with a red sweater and a chiffon scarf tied around her neck

"Goodher carefully

When you travel the world and live ast cultures different froe and facial expressions; you learn how to read people

"How’s your ankle?"

She gives the barest shrug "It’s fine"

I saw her ankle yesterday--it’s nowhere near fine It was already swelling out in the woods It rimace even as she walks in black baby-doll puh pain threshold or self-control made of iron

She pulls up a chair beside Thoe on the tray "You need to eat your breakfast"

"There’s things we need to talk about, Lenora"

"Tho, "I’ll eat the whole bowl after we talk"

She sighs "All right What did you want to talk about?"

And my brother, ever diplomatic, just puts it all out there

"I think you should e She doesn’t laugh or gasp or frown Her tone is cool and reserved