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Hunter doesn’thiet to us when they can," I soothe hi changed"

Hunter sits besidehis foot I reach over and take his hand, uncurling his fist to drop a kiss on his palain I know I don’t have any right tototo take this terrible panic away "He’s never had proble the best care"

Hunter jerks up to his feet and starts pacing "I hate these places," hestuck here, before…" He trails off, and I can see it in his eyes that he’s reliving every awful second of what happened that dark winter’s night three years ago

I try to think of so to say, but my mind is blank "I’m sorry," I whisper helplessly My heart aches to watch him like this, so full of bleak o away"

Hunter closes his eyes, like he’s trying to block out the world I get up and slipI stand there, holding hi and bear soht on ed

Just a couple of hours ago, ere snuggled safe in each other’s arether It was perfect, so peaceful and filled with joy, and now…

Now Hunter’s shoulder’s are hunched against my embrace, his body stiff and distant I can tell, he’s a thousand miles away from me, like an invisible canyon has suddenly opened between us, pulling him into a private world of fear

"Hunter, thank God!" A voice cuts through the waiting roo towards us, trailed by a cluster of doctors "What took you so long? He’s been asking for you"

"Dad’s awake?" Hunter clutchesin his room" Ca them for hours, that shoebox is an insult You’d think that with all the money we raise for this hospital--"

"I’ot" Hunter placates her "The room, mom Where is he?"

She points down the hallway, and Hunter takes off without another word, leavinghere alone

For the first time, Camille notices me

"And you are…?" She arches a perfectly shaped eyebrow Her expression is blank, despite the fact I spent half a dozen surilled chicken sandwiches But it’s been years now, and she’s clearly got plenty on her mind

"Brit Hi" I s Despite the crisis, Caold jewelry She must be in her late fifties by now, but there’s not a line visible on her face, or a hint of grey in her sleek blonde bob "I’ I can do to help?"

"Thank you," she ansith automatic politeness "But we have it under control" She looks me up and down for a ain, a friend of Hunter’s?"

"I… Yes"

I fold et dressed and on the road, I threw a shirt of Hunter’s overit around , ‘I just screwed your son’

"Well, thank you for… escorting Hunter here" Ca ht now This room situation is impossible, and I need to talk to talk to someone about his o ahead"

"It was nice to meet you" Ca ives me a sympathetic look "Room twenty-one" She says "Just that way"

"Thanks"

I catch my breath, then carefully venture in the other direction, following the way I saw Hunter go until I reach the room I’ tubes--but when I nervously step into the roo with Hunter, looking the picture of health

Relief crashes over me, folloiftly by confusion Richard looks like he just stepped off the golf course, not suffered a major heart attack

"Hey," I knock aardly on the open door Hunter turns

"Brit!" He leaps up to greet"Come meet my dad Dad, this is Brit Brit,a plush navy dressing gown over striped pajamas, a spread of empty deli wrappers on the bedside table "Sorry there’s notto that She’s on the war-path," he adds conspiratorially "I wouldn’t be surprised if they kick out half the ward to e forwards and take the hand he offers His handshake is firot the call, we thought…"

"That I was banging at death’s door?" Richard finishes cheerfully "False alarina But you know your ’s OK," Hunter tellsoff hiratefulness "He’ll be fine" He exhales "He just needs to watch his diet, and get more exercise--"

"Lord, not you too!" Richard protests "I’ve already had an earful froood steak fro at all?"

"I’ll certainly bear that inyour funeral," Camille’s voice comes, icy fro a glass from his hand "Tell me you didn’t drink this Richard! You know these places are a breeding ground for infections"

"It’s alright, dear You’re not getting rid of me just yet" Richard pats her hand, and Ca between thehimself "We shouldn’t have worried"

HisThe doctors said it’s a warning sign And is it any wonder? Your father has been working himself to death, all alone at that company"

"I have employees--" Richard tries to interrupt, but Camille won’t be stopped

"And you, all the way off in the middle of nowhere," she accuses Hunter "What would have happened if it had been a real heart attack? By the tiht, all this stress you’ve left him with" She plumps up the pilloith sharp motions, barely controlled "He was never meant to run that place alone, it was supposed to be for you boys Well, I hope you’re happy now"