fter a few brief days of crying, she would simply f

the armchair across from the man. Her eyes sharpened, the same way they did during her toughest

his family, she felt a persistent concern for

e ago. Get some rest yourself. We'll tal

ion to me?" Despite her disheveled appearance, Al

nny I entrusted him to, angered by my reprimand, spirited him away. It was never

he took his first breath. He'd come into this world alone,

, she didn't object. The hot shower washed away some of the exhaust

ive afterward left her barely able to keep her eyes open. Rest was a lux

a sharp rapping at the

come out and see him?" called a w

everything, so Allison hadn

m!" Lucas's cries seep

past the staff member and rushed for the

ght of her, he broke away from the staff member and b

s. "I'm right here. I just needed a lit

out like this. He kept insisting that he was

omise I'll behave. I won't pick on any

k him. His mother hadn't fought to keep him. He figured maybe he

ould sob his fears out, but ther

ie. Try to be brave now, or th

as said, blinking away his tears and trying to steady hi

up and caught Derek watching from the

sight of Lucas's tears; the very

's forehead, then on her own. Alarm flas

ks came from crying, but heat radi

ard the worry in her voice.

the housekeepe

flashed-10

ath Lucas's T-shirt and found

mpletely soaked-why didn't someone change him?" In her

in the car. When they'd finally arrived, he refused to let the house staff help,

the hospital!" He looked at Rita Flynn

d away, keeping Lucas close. "Get him some dry clothes

harp tone, he nodded and sent

switched on the heater, and with shaky

n the stairs, his small frame surprisingly heavy in her arms. Minutes ticked by as she searched in vain for a taxi-finally, a passing car came into view. Without a second thought,

ever since: if his temperature didn't br

a chill through A

t first, she'd blamed his tears for the lethargy, but

ucas murmured, trying to keep his eyelids open. He must've learn

hurried out, murmuring between hurried b

rflowing with families, a

appointment meant they could skip the c

was written all over her face, and Derek, noticing her distress

aside his haughty demeanor, espe

on had only just come home. He wanted to bridge the gap between the

earching for Lucas, and n

ntly placed Lucas in Derek's arms. There was no point clin

a clumsy, uncertain embrace. He was startl

hospital board. He couldn't comprehend how she managed to

athe once the IV drip started a

ly, a simple cold is nothing, but you can't ignore a fever. One time it nearly turned int

ike crazy when he's playing, so always check if his back is damp and change his tee if

ht just make it easier for Lucas

ep an eye on how much time he spends with screens. H

onnected to the IV, Allison ran thro

to meet his. "Can you promi

ack, silent an

s across Lucas's forehead. "He's always longed for

cas always wilted when someone

by all this time?" Derek asked, shifting the topic with a tone d

nce to dig deep into h

ing a child couldn'

nt after the divorce, and I had some saving

d from Lucas, it was time to pick herself up an

n't managed to secure a private room. Their conversation was cut sh

oy-no more than four-being gently settl

iam Clark, three years and seven months,

ention. She turned her eyes to

even months," the man said, his anxious vo