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Desperation h and shrill No one said a word

They lifted Jory off the stretcher by using the sheet, carefully deposited him on his bed, then chased all of us out but Chris In the hall outside I held Melodie and waited, waited

Melodie and I went back to Foxworth Hall toward dahen Jory's condition seeh forin some little room used by the interns on duty

I had wanted to stay as well, but Melodie grew everthethe nurses who scurried in and out of his roo the doctors ouldn't give her, or ht answer

A taxi drove us both back to the Hall, where a light had been left burning near the front doors The sun was just peeking over the horizon, flushing the sky with frail pink Little birds woke up and fluttered tentative fledgling wings, while their parents sang or chirped their territorial rights before they fleay to find food I supported Melodie up the stairs and into the house She was by this tiered and seemed drunk

Up one side of the dual staircase carefully, sloithevery second of the baby she was carrying and the effect this night ht have on him or her In the bedrooe to undress, her hands treown over her head, tucked her into the bed and turned out the light "I'll stay if you want," I said, as she lay there bleak and hopeless looking She wanted me to stay, wanted to talk about Jory and the doctors ouldn't give us any encouragement "Why do they do that?" she cried

How could I tell her how doctors protected themselves with silence until they were sure of their facts? I covered for all Jory's doctors, telling Melodie that Jory had to be all right or they would have wanted her to stay on

Finally she drifted into restless sleep, fretting and tossing, calling Jory's na up often to jerk back to awareness and cry all over again Her anguish was painful to see and hear, and I was left feeling as wrung out as she was

An hour later, much to my relief, she sank into deep sleep, as if even she knew she had to escape that way

I had a few ed intoforof the mattress when she sat opened my eyes I saw her face, openedto be all right, Momma?"

"Darling, your father is there with hiery He's in a private roo co to eat a quick breakfast and then drive to the city to be there, too I want you to stay here with Melodie--"

Already I'd decided that Melodie was o to the hospital with me

Instantly Cindy protested, saying she wanted to go and see Jory herself I shook , and she is taking this very hard, and in her condition she shouldn't go back to the hospital until we know the truth about Jory I've never seen a wo in a hospital She seems to think they are as bad as funeral ho to keep her calm, wait on her, see that she eats and drinks Give her the peace she is seeking desperately nowand I'll telephone when I know so"

Melodie, when I peeked in a few ht decision "Explain to her why I didn't wait for her to wake up, Cindy, lest she think I' her place"

I drove very fast toward the hospital