Ted chuckled. “It goes with the territory. The worst thing about getting older is that I sound just like my father. It hit me one day. I was telling Adam to take out the garbage and I suddenly realized I’d had the exact same conversation—from the other side—thirty years ago.” He stood and picked up his tray. “I’ve gotta go. Paper goes to press this afternoon and I wouldn’t want to leave out Mrs. Reilly’s gall bladder operation.”

“Last week, The Times . . .” sympathized Lucy.

“This week the hospital news,” Ted finished for her. “Don’t remind me.” He paused. “You know, Lucy, I think I will stop by the barracks and have a word with Horowitz. It might be worth taking another look at George.”

“Really?” Lucy brightened.

“You never know. If you’re right, it’d be a hell of a story. Say hi to Bill for me.”

Lucy watched Ted cross the lobby and disappear through the doors. A few minutes later Dave Davidson appeared, alone. Lucy’s eyes followed him as he paused for a moment and felt his hair with tentative fingers. Other people ran their hands through their hair, they tossed their heads, they tucked a lock of hair behind an ear, thought Lucy, but Dave Davidson explored his. Evidently reassured, he continued on his way to the parking lot. A few minutes later a flustered-looking Marge Culpepper appeared. Lucy waved to her and was horrified to see Marge burst into tears.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

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“Gosh, Marge,” said Lucy, taking her by the elbow and leading her to a seat in the lobby, “I don’t usually have this effect on people. Loved by one and all, that’s me, or at least it was before this morning.”

“Oh, Lucy,” moaned Marge, dissolving into a fresh torrent of tears.

Lucy patted her hand, supplied her with a clean hankie, and murmured, “There, there,” until Marge’s shoulders gave a little convulsive shudder and she wiped her eyes for the last time.

“I’m sorry,” she said, smiling apologetically. “It’s just that I don’t know what to think anymore.”

“What do you mean?” asked Lucy. “Barney’s getting better. All you have to do is wait and hope. You’ll have him back any day now. That’s what the nurse said.”

“But Dave says it’s not right to let him suffer.”

“What?”

“Dave says if Barney had made a living will, he wouldn’t have to go through this. He says it’s inhumane. No one should be hooked up to machines, to suffer endlessly, when there’s no hope.”

“Maybe he’s right when there’s no hope. But there’s plenty of room for hope in Barney’s case,” Lucy said with what she hoped was cheerful encouragement.