“Yes. Now I suggest you go to the cafeteria and have some lunch. You have lost too much weight this week.”

“Really?”

“Certainly. Now go. I will return your husband to his room when the tests are finished.”

Kate rose. “Thank you, Dr. Schmidt. For everything.”

He made an it’s-nothing gesture with his hand. “This is my job.” Smiling, she headed for the door. She was nearly there when he called her name again. She turned. “Yes?”

“There are not many reporters left, but is it acceptable to report on your husband’s condition? We would very much like them to leave.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Excellent.”

Kate left his office and went to the elevator at the end of the hall.

The cafeteria was mostly empty on this late Thursday afternoon. There were a few groups of employees gathered around the rectangular tables and a few families ordering food. It was easy to tell which group was which. The employees were laughing and talking while they ate; the patients’ families were quiet and still, staring down at their food and looking up at the clock every few minutes.

Kate made her way through the tables to the window. Outside, the sky was a dark, steely gray; any moment it would start to rain or snow.

Even with the distortion of the glass, she could see how tired she looked, how spent.

It was odd, but somehow it was harder to be alone with her relief than with her despair. Then, she’d wanted mostly to sit quietly and blank out her mind and try to imagine the best. Now she wanted to laugh with someone, to smile and raise a glass in celebration and say she’d known all along it would end like this.

No. Not someone.

Tully.

For all of Kate’s life, Tully had been the first line of celebration, the party just waiting to happen. Her best friend would toast crossing the street safely if that was what Kate wanted.

Turning away from the window, she went over to the table and sat down.

“You look like you could use a drink.”

Kate looked up. Tully stood there, dressed in crisp black jeans and a white boat-necked angora sweater. Although her hair and makeup were perfect, she looked tired. And nervous.

“You’re still here?”

“You thought I’d leave you?” Tully tried to smile, but it wasn’t the real thing. “I brought you a cup of tea.”

Kate stared at the Styrofoam cup in Tully’s hand. She knew it was her favorite—Earl Grey—doctored with just the right amount of sugar.