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By the time they’d parked and reached the hospital’sjust inside He seeitated and nervous, which was understandable This had to be a tense night for hihtened the moment he saw her But a frown forlass doors slid open and Leanne ran toward Clark, hugging him hard "Clark, this is such terrible news"

"Leanne," he said, hugging her back Over her mother’s shoulders, his eyes searched out Phoebe

"Where’s Marlene?" Leanne asked "She must be frantic"

Clark dropped his arms and led the way into the hospital foyer

"She…she left"

Phoebe stared at hiht and yourbetter"

"Since when?" Phoebe asked, her suspicions building

"A while ago," Clark said, aze head-on

"That’s terrif ic," Leannefrom one to the other

"Was Max ever desperately ill?" Phoebe asked, refusing to break eye contact with Clark She wanted him to know he hadn’t fooled her When he’d f irst phoned, she’d hated being so ht Clark illing to use anything to win her back, even an out-andout lie She shouldn’t be surprised and yet she was At the same time she was sickened that he’d sink to this level--that he’d exploit his father’s condition in this way

"Now that I’ht as well check at the nurses’ station to see for "

"They’re very busy," Clark immediately countered

"He’s in ICU, isn’t he?"

Clark exhaled "Actually, he was moved earlier…" He let the rest fade "Why don’t we all have a cup of coffee and I’ll update you?"

"So your father made a miraculous recovery in the last thirty minutes" She didn’t keep the sarcaso home, but you have to understand he’s still at serious risk"

Phoebe didn’t believe it

"I could do with a cup of coffee," Leanne said "Decaf, of course Anything with caffeine would keep o ahead," Phoebe told the to use the ladies’ room"

Clark stared after her as she hurried down the hall to the public restrooms Once inside, she pulled out her cell phone, called directory assistance and had them connect her with the hospital’s receptionist

"Could you please tell an and silently asked God to forgive the lie "I’d like to order f lowers online and apparently they need a roo the woman was back "Our records show that Mr Snoas released froritted teeth "Thank you for your trouble"

"It was my pleasure"

It would be Phoebe’s pleasure to tell Clark what she thought of him When she stepped out of the restroo for her

"Tio, Mother," she said f irlance "But…what about coffee with Clark?"

Phoebecoffee with Clark"

"Phoebe," her otten into you? You’re being rude Clark’s father is very ill Like you, I’m disappointed that Marlene isn’t here, but Clark told me she’s been with Max for days and is emotionally and physically exhausted"

Phoebe stopped and turned to face her mother and Clark "If that’s the case, then she wasn’t at the hospital"

"But of course she was," Leanne protested "The entire fa , Moo" She looked directly at Clark "Did you think I couldn’t call the hospital switchboard?"

He glared back at her and refused to answer

"If anything like this ever happens again," she said slowly and distinctly, "I’ the police" She wanted to be sure he understood this wasn’t an idle threat "I’m serious, Clark One more incident like this and I’ll report you as a stalker"