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Both Cole and Ben exhale and begin peppering the doctor with questions Once they are satisfied with his answers, they thank him and he leaves The two men look at one another with relief plain on their faces and embrace once more

I prepare for the long haul, knowing that neither of the to leave this hospital for at least the next twenty-four hours Cole gathers me in his arms and I can feel the cautious optimisoing to be ok

“Frohtly on the lips

We settle in and I curl up in one of the big leather chairs with my head on Cole’s shoulder I close my eyes and drift off to sleep for a few minutes here and there In between my short naps, I listen to the two brothers talk for just about the first time in almost fifteen years

“So how long have you two been together?” I hear Ben ask

Cole chuckles “Going on a whole five days now,” he says

“Really? Wow, you two really look like the real deal ht you’d been together for years,” Ben remarks

“Well if I have any say in it, ill be,” Cole says softly

I feel my pulse quicken but I keep my eyes shut I don’t want hi

“Actually, Aunt Nora sent her here,” Cole says “She’s a friend of hers”

A long silence follows “How is Aunt Nora?” Ben finally asks

“She’s good And she’d love to hear fro

“I know I just don’t think she’d be very proud of how I’ve turned out,” Ben says, sadness plain in his voice

“Yeah, about that,” Cole clears his throat “What’s this bullshit about you suing us for a third of the ranch? You haven’t given a shit about the place in damn near twenty years”

Ben sighs deeply “Look Cole, it’s not that I don’t give a shit It’s just that it was hard for me to be around there after mom and dad died”