n bill of health, just a few bruises and a mild concussion. B

, I insisted o

Chloe," I sai

d. "Why? She' s just a veget

rgument. It was a tone Jake often used with her, and it work

res connecting me to a chorus of beeping machines. My parents weren't there, they must have gone home to rest.

one to me. This was what

My wife, Chloe Miller, is to receive the best possible care. Spare no expen

devoted husband act. On the way out

he taxi. "Are you crazy, Jake? We ne

her think I was still the same spineless son s

rents had bought for me. The moment I stepped

e new Transformer! The big one!" It was Liam, Tiff

were scanning the large living ro

iv

remembered, her shoulders hunched. She was just staring at me, her big eyes wide with something I couldn'

my steps slow and careful. "Olivia,"

small hands twisting the hem of her d

elf less intimidating. "It' s o

ad, and my hand recoiled. She was

nda and Tiffany, who had just sauntered into th

ine. Just a little cold. Ki

an over and shoved Olivia hard. "You' re

the edge of the coffee table with a sicke

inside m

y the collar of his shirt, and lifted him off the gro

e you doing, Jake?

d. "Put him down! H

r again," I said, my voice a low, dangerous growl. I shook him once, hard, then dropped him o

was so light. As I carried her upstairs to her bedroom, her sleeve rode up, a

as. There were more. Small, yellowish bruises on her arms, a larger one on her leg. T

My sweet, inn

h fever. The rage I felt in the hospital was nothing com

I would burn their

ol and a cool washcloth for her forehead. Sh

stroking her hair. "Daddy' s here now. And I

The person in Jake' s body now was a mother, and there is nothin