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Meredith and Jeff ht It was a subdued ho, full of sad looks and unspoken words, not what it should have been at all

“How’s Grandpa?” Jillian asked when the car doors shut and they were all together in the quiet

Meredith wanted to lie, but it was too late to protect thelad to see you, though ”

Maddy’s eyes filled with tears Of course they did; her youngest daughter had always been the ehed louder or cried harder than Maddy “Can we see hiht?”

“Of course, honey He’s waiting for us And your aunt Nina is here, too ”

Maddy smiled at that, but it wasn’t her real smile; it was a tattered version of it “Cool ”

And somehoith all of it, that quiet, subdued cool hurt Meredith rief that would reconfigure their family Maddy and Jillian adored Nina Usually they treated her like a rock star

But noas just that quiet, whispered cool

“Maybe he should see another specialist,” Jillian said Her voice was soft and calhter would someday become Steady and collected That was Jillian

“He’s seen several really good doctors,” Jeff said He waited a minute, let those words sink in, and then he started the car

Usually, they would have talked and laughed and told stories on the drive, and once at hoa room to watch a movie

Tonight, though, the drive was quiet The girls tried to make conversation, told dull stories about classes and sorority rules and even the weather, but their words had trouble rising above the pall that hung in the car

At Belye Nochi, they went into the house and made their way up the narrow stairway to the second floor At the top of the stairs, Meredith turned to them and almost warned them that he looked ill But that hat achildren Instead, with a little nod, she opened the door and led the way into the bedroom “Hey, Dad Look who is here to see you ”

Nina was sitting on the stone hearth, her back to a bright orange fire At their entrance, she stood “These can’t be one

She went to the girls, hugged theed her brother-in-law