Christina had made arrangements to send Alex home with Gonzo’s parents while she stayed at the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzales hugged Sam and thanked her for being such a good friend and boss to their son. They nearly reduced her to tears again with their effusiveness.

“We love him very much,” Sam somehow managed to say.

When it was down to just Sam, Nick and Christina, he turned to his longtime friend and colleague. “Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself? I don’t mind staying.”

“And I don’t mind loaning him out for the night,” Sam added.

Christina offered a faint smile. “I appreciate the offer, but there’s no need to stay. I’m fine now that I know he’s going to survive. I’ll probably conk out in the ICU waiting room until I can see him.”

“Will you call me if you change your mind?” Nick asked.

“Sure,” she said as she hugged him. “Thanks so much for the shoulder tonight.”

“Anytime.”

Sam hugged her too. “Let us know what we can do for you and Alex. Anything.”

“Thanks, Sam. I’m sure we’ll be taking you up on that before all is said and done.”

“The offer stands.”

“I’ll call you in the morning to let you know how he is,” Christina said.

“I’ll be waiting to hear.”

She left them to head for the ICU.

“Would you mind if we checked in on Brooke before we head home?” Sam asked Nick.

“Not at all. Let’s go.”

“We should let the family know that Gonzo is out of surgery and expected to be okay,” Sam said as they waited for the elevator.

Nick pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Group text.”

“I probably need to get one of those smartphones one of these days.”

“You’d go into shock with this much technology in the palm of your hand. You probably ought to stick to your ancient flip phone.”

“Are you making fun of me?” After the horrendous afternoon and evening they’d spent waiting for news of Gonzo, it was a relief to return to business as usual with her husband.

“Would I be so foolish as to make fun of you, my love?”

“I believe you would. Makeup sex is one of your favorite things.”

Laughing, Nick put his arm around her and kept it there on the walk to Brooke’s room, where they found the teenager up and walking around, wearing a robe from home and fuzzy bunny slippers.

“Looks like someone is feeling better,” Sam said as she hugged her niece.

“Much better, and going home tomorrow.”

“That’s great news. I’m so glad you’ll be home for Thanksgiving.”

“Me too. It’s my favorite holiday.”

“Where’re your mom and dad?”

“They went home for a bit to shower and change and see Abby and Ethan.”