Frank pondered the question. Maybe the burning pain he felt in his stomach was partially due to hunger. “I suppose I could be convinced into eating something.”

“Food will be on the table in half an hour,” Megan announced.

Something caught Jasper’s attention and he padded over to the women.

Frank put his chair into a reclining position. Through the burning pain, a wave of fatigue washed over him.

By the time dinner was ready, Frank O’Reilly was peacefully snoring.

###

Two weeks after the move to DC, Juan had finally settled into a comfortable routine. The new lab was tremendous—three times the size of the old one—and he had four new interns at his disposal, none of whom were scared of handling rats. Things were looking up.

And that wasn’t even the best part.

The best part was Kathy.

Juan sat in his new office, talking to her on the phone, smiling like a teenager talking to the prom queen. She sounded so much happier than the last time they’d talked.

“And Dad’s eating like he hasn’t been fed in ages! It’s awesome. I can tell he’s still in pain, but I sometimes think I see glimpses of the way he was before the cancer hit. I know I’m probably imagining it, but this stuff he’s on might be helping.”

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear it, Kathy. I really hope everything turns out well. But… just keep in the back of your mind that he has a serious condition. You understand what I mean?”

“Oh, I do. I mean, I’m trying to keep my expectations in check.” It sounded to Juan as if she’d failed in that regard. “So, how are things with you? You’re up in New York, right? Getting ready for a white Christmas?”

Juan laughed. “Normally, I’d say yes. But my work has transferred me to DC, and we’re having some warm weather right now.”

“No way! That’s awesome. I mean… I hope the move’s good for you. Is it?”

“It is. I mean I really haven’t had much chance to get to know DC. Been hammered at work. Actually…” Juan’s stomach churned as he built up the courage to step over a line he hadn’t expected to have the opportunity to cross. “Maybe when you get back, you can recommend another nice place to go in DC. We could, uh… maybe we could explore it together.”

The line fell silent for a second. When Kathy spoke, her voice was softer, almost timid. “I’d love that.”