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“Pretty much” Her dad winked at Clover “Hey, pumpkin”

She sniffled despite knowing tears were the last thing he’d want to see right now “Hi, Dad”

“I’d get up and give you a hug, but I’ any more than necessary”

“Good Lord, Phillip” Her ht you were having a heart attack You do have a history you know”

He gave a little shrug “It’s just angina”

“Which onna start eating better so your blood pressure doesn’t go out of whack again,” her ames on TV”

“Jesus, just take away all the things worth living for, why don’t you?” her dad groused, but the deep worry lines between his eyes showed that he’d been almost as scared as her mom

“I’ll still be here,” her mom snapped

Phillip glanced over at his wife and any trace of anxiety slid away “As long as that’s the case, I guess I can suffer through without the rest”

“Well you’d better because I can’t live without you” Her ave her dad a quick kiss on the cheek before straightening and looking back at Saas hanging back in the doorway “And is that yourin the doorway? Coht now, but we promise not to bite you”

“I’d get that in writing, if I were you,” her dad said with a grin

Saalked over, and there was a manly handshake fro he was lying in a hospital bed wearing a gown that didn’t close all the way in the back—and a hug froer brother Bobby ca of Corn Nuts in the other She’d barely had time to introduce hi hours were over, and hustled them out of the room and into the hall

“Well, we ht as well head home,” her mom said as they rode the elevator down “You till be staying with us, of course Noe can finally have that family lunch that hasn’t fit into your busy schedules”

Clover’s conscience jabbed her right in the heart If they left without staying for lunch, it would hurt everyone If they stayed and she had to lie to her fa, it would hurt everyone Jesus It was just supposed to be a fun adventure that would get her soet so damn complicated

“Family lunch?” Sawyer asked while she stood there silent like an idiot