Ruth let out a little sob, and Paul turned from the window with an incredulous look. Brian made some vague gesture preventing the younger brother from articulating his skepticism. Leanne covered the old man’s hand with her other one and held on as he gasped for breath. A single tear trickled down his papery cheek, then the machines went wild.

Five minutes later, Leanne lost the father she’d never known.

***

It didn’t take long before Leanne staggered out, pale, trembling, and shell-shocked. Trev caught her when she stumbled, and the rest of the family emerged from the hospital room, the woman weeping openly while her brothers tried to comfort her. Hospital staff ran in, but death could only be delayed for so long.

He had no idea what the hell he was supposed to do in these circumstances. They couldn’t expect Leanne to help with funeral plans, right? Would they expect her to attend? Quietly, he took his wife’s hand and tried to convey support while people whose names he didn’t even know cried in front of him. The oldest brother conferred with the hospital staff in a low tone, presumably making arrangements.

Leanne squeezed Trev’s hand. When he leaned closer, she whispered, “Should we go? I have no idea what I’m doing here.”

Before they could make a break for it, one of her brothers strode over. “I just want to thank you again for making the trip. You did everything—”

“Except show up on time,” the other man sneered. “You’re not even part of our family! Your mother seduced our dad, and yet you’re the only one he cared about seeing at the end? Do you have any idea—”

“Paul,” the older one cut in sharply.

While Trev wasn’t necessarily Junie’s biggest fan either, it wasn’t fair to blame a twenty-year-old girl for the choices a grown man had made. Plus, he felt the way Leanne recoiled, and hell no, he wasn’t having that. “I get that you’re upset,” he said coldly. “But my wife did your family a favor. If your grief means you can’t be civil, then we’re done.”

He pulled Leanne with him toward the elevators, ignoring the older man’s attempts to get him to slow down. Finally, she tugged on Trev’s hand. At least she looked amused now rather than shaky. He’d never seen her so uncertain before, and damn, it nearly did him in.

“I didn’t know you had that in you,” she said.

“Too much?”

“Hell no, it was hot. I thought you might even punch Paul.”

“Is that the younger one’s name?”

“Yep. Brian is the oldest, Ruth is the middle one, I think, and Paul is the spoiled baby.”

“That tracks, according to his behavior. Think he’s mad because he’s not the youngest anymore?” Trev asked.