He gratefully took the pill from her and washed it down, closing his eyes against the gnawing ache in his back. It was exactly what he’d been told to expect and wasn’t so bad that he couldn't handle it, but bad enough that he wasn’t about to say no to taking the edge off.

“What else can I do for you?” Emma asked.

He held out his arms to her. “Come lie with me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You’ll hurt me more if you don’t.”

What could she say to that? She curled up to him on the sofa, putting her arm across his waist as he wrapped both of his around her.

“This day turned out way better than expected. I thought I’d have to spend a long boring weekend here by myself.”

“Good surprise?”

“The best. But I have to remember you’ve got this sneaky side to you. I talked to you this morning, and you never told me you were on your way.”

She laughed. “I was already at LaGuardia when I talked to you.”

“Very sneaky.”

“You’ll discover that’s about the extent of my sneakiness.”

“It means so much to me that you came, that you took time off work, that you had to arrange coverage for Simone, that—”

Emma kissed him. “I couldn’t stay away.”

He cupped her face and kissed her back. “Love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you, too. I’m so glad this is over and done with for you.”

“So am I.”

“Close your eyes and get some rest.”

“Only if you stay right here with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He released a deep breath and tightened his hold on her before dozing off.

Emma didn’t expect to sleep, but the late nights on the phone with him and the early morning trek to the airport had her closing her eyes.

His ringing cell phone interrupted their nap.

He woke with a groan and released Emma so she could retrieve the phone from his coat pocket.

She handed it to him.

“I don’t recognize the number. Probably the hospital checking on me.” He took the call and then went totally still. “Yes, it’s me.”

Emma sat next to him, wondering who was on the phone.

He took hold of her hand and mouthed the words my father to her. “It was no big deal,” he said. “I hope it helps.”

Emma could barely breathe as she held his hand.

He tipped the phone so she could hear both sides of the conversation.

She heard his father say “more than I deserve.” On that they agreed.

“I just wanted to say thank you, Grayson,” his father said. “Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome. I’m going to go. Take care.”

“You, too, son.”

Grayson put the phone on the coffee table. “That’s the first time I’ve talked to him in nearly twenty years.”