The tall guard stayed to watch me while the smaller one went to the visitor desk and had another chat with the clerk.

When he returned he said, “Ma’am, we will escort you to the ICU for your visit. That’s on the second floor. Come along.”

As we walked past the visitor desk, everyone was watching us again, like we were the most interesting thing they’d ever seen. “I don’t need a chaperone,” I said.

They said nothing. In the elevator, the tall guard pressed 2.

“I was only upset about my friend, the sick woman on the third floor, Cally Scott. That’s why they called you to take me away. I was simply worried about her.” I paused to see if they were convinced. No reaction. “Do you know what happened to her?” I asked, but how would they know. They wouldn’t tell me if they did.

“Here we go, ma’am.” They accompanied me into the ICU, flashing badges to open doors and nodding at nurses like we were some kind of celebrity entourage. “We’ll be waiting outside the door. Fifteen minutes. Any disturbance, and we will remove you from the premises,” the short guard said. These were their terms.

I smiled politely and nodded. This was some grade-A baloney, but I wasn’t letting on. “Hal,” I said, so relieved to see him when I got in Jake’s room. Hal practically ran to hold me, then leaned on me so heavily, I thought I’d crumple. What was this? He started to cry. “Oh, Hal, it’s okay,” I said, trying to hug him but also making sure he could balance on his own.

Audrey sat in the chair, and Caleb was on the floor in a swirl of jackets, hats, and backpack. Game Boy Advance in hand. Eyes on Game Boy Advance.

“Hi, guys,” I said, with Hal still slumped on me. I kissed him and said, “I’m so sorry, honey.”

Audrey flashed a smile, then a worried look.

“Any news?” I asked the group.

Finally, Hal stood up straight, wiped his face, and shook his head to reset himself. In this moment, I was grateful my security detail was out of sight.

“Nothing new,” said Audrey.

“He’s been stable,” said Hal, blinking and inhaling deeply. “And we’ve been talking to him. Telling him we love him.” Hal sounded like he was getting weepy again, and I patted his chest, trying my best to comfort him.

“I’m sure he hears you; he knows you’re there,” I said, and I believed it.

“Yeah.” Hal seemed to believe it, too.

“Hal,” I whispered, pulling his head down to hear me. “I need to tell you something.”

“What?” he said in his normal voice, not whispering. He could see the urgency in my face, but I held back because it felt wrong to be too excited.