“He didn’t really care. He told me to take whatever time I needed as long as I didn’t slack on my accounts.” She pulled a coloring book out of the bag Amanda was smart enough to pack and opened it to a blank picture. “I kind of want him to fire me. I’d be able to collect unemployment until I find a job I don’t hate. Like these,” she said, holding up the coloring book. She smiled at Caleb. “Would you like it if Bug made coloring books?”

Caleb’s eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically.

Amanda sat in the chair right next to Gretchen’s bed. She held her hand delicately. “You can’t go from graphic designer to coloring book designer.”

“Bug can do anything,” Caleb said as he climbed on Jax.

She smiled at Caleb. If it wasn’t for him, she’d be a complete wreck by now. Any strength Jax had was coming from the squirming boy on her lap. “Yeah, Aunt Amanda, I can do anything.”

Amanda opened her mouth, but a knock at the door stopped the conversation. She placed Gretchen’s hand back on the bed and opened the door. It was Jax’s best friend, Wyatt, holding a comically large bouquet of flowers. He looked completely harried and greeted Amanda with a worried smile.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.” He handed the flowers to Amanda and rushed over to Jax. “Hey, buddy,” he said to Caleb. Wyatt extended his hand and went through a lengthy series of high fives with Caleb.

Jax set Caleb down and stood up to greet Wyatt. Facing Amanda was tough, but looking at Wyatt? Jax felt her defenses start to crumble. She wrapped her arms around him and didn’t let go until she had to. Jax took a deep breath to push down her rising tears and stepped back.

“Thank you so much for coming.”

“Carly wanted to come, but she’s having a tough third trimester. Swelling, pain, poor balance—the whole nine yards.” Wyatt scratched his beard and approached the hospital bed. He removed the knit beanie from his buzzed head and held it to his flannel-clad chest. When he turned back to Jax, his eyes were misty. “What the hell happened?”

Jax looked at Caleb, who had started coloring again. “Amanda, would you mind if we ran downstairs for coffee? I’ll be gone for no more than twenty minutes.”

Amanda waved her off. “Do a few laps. I’ll go for a walk once you’re back.”

“Text me if anything changes. Hey, bud?” Jax waited for Caleb to look at her. “Are you hungry? Do you want a cookie and some milk?”

“Yes!”

“It’s not even ten in the morning.”

She shot Amanda a look. “Be good for your aunt, and I’ll bring you one.”

She walked next to Wyatt through the hospital. They stood together in the elevator and Jax stared at the digital display, not knowing where to start. “Icy steps.”

“What?”

“Icy steps,” she said again, looking at him this time. “From what they can tell, she slipped on some ice and fell down the stairs at her office.” The doors opened, and they stepped out into the bustling main floor of the hospital. Jax followed the signs to the café, not yet sure of the hospital’s layout. She paused at the café’s doorway. The line for coffee was twenty deep.