Juan heard the rustling of paper in the background and a moment later she responded. “Yes, I’ve got paper and pen.”

Juan picked up the paper Steve had scribbled on. “Okay, write this down. The clinical trial administrator is a man named Deidrick Müller. Your father will need to go there in the morning. He’ll probably be forced to read a whole bunch of disclosures and sign a bunch of papers. That’s how these trials work. Do you need the address to the VA?”

“No, my parents have gone there before.” Kathy started to cry. “Juan, thank you so much. I know what the chances are, but just for them… for me to have some hope. I’m really grateful.”

Juan’s throat tightened as Kathy’s emotion got to him. “Listen to me, Kathy. You still have my business card, right?”

“Yes,” Kathy said as she sniffed.

“Please don’t hesitate to call me any time you want. If you have any medical questions, or even just need a shoulder to cry on. Okay?”

“I hope you really mean that, because you might regret saying it.” She laughed, then sniffed again.

Juan noticed that Steve was grinning and making a heart-shaped sign over his chest.

Feeling the heat grow in his cheeks, Juan said. “I do mean it. Now go tell your folks.”

“Mom, wait right there, I’ve got something to tell you. My mom just walked in. Thank you, Juan. Thank you so much. I promise I’ll call you one way or another.”

“I look forward to it.”

As Juan hung up, Steve said, “So, when do I get to meet this young lady who has you so smitten?”

Apparently Juan’s emotions were written all over his face. He threw his cloth napkin at Steve and grumbled, “Shut up.”

Chapter Thirteen

Kathy hopped out of the driver’s seat of the pickup, raced around to the passenger’s side, and held out her hand for Dad to grab ahold of. She’d been gone only three months, yet it seemed as if her father had aged ten years. He never complained, but she knew he was in serious pain; he winced any time he moved.

“Come on, Dad, it’s just you and me. Let me help you.”

Grudgingly, he took her hand to steady himself as he climbed down from the pickup. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this, pumpkin. It’s—”

“Dad, please just stop torturing yourself. These people are going to help. I talked to the doctor running this program. They said that they’re having some really good luck with cases like yours.” Kathy slammed the pickup’s door shut and held her father’s hand as they walked to the VA’s entrance.