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seemed really sympathetic and had asked if she’d found Simon.
    ***
    Maybe she was grasping at straws or maybe it was because the breathing tube had been removed, but Elaine thought Dan’s color was a hundred percent better. Aside from the stubble of a three-day old beard, he looked…rested. Yes, that was probably the word that worked best…tanned, rested, and vital. He carried his fifty-two years extremely well. No one would guess there was a six-year difference in their ages. Prominent cheekbones, only laugh lines combined with crinkly ones around his eyes to mar an otherwise smooth face. And the longest eyelashes—why was it that men got them somehow as a birthright and women got them via Latisse—at a hundred and twenty dollars a month?
    She dragged a low-slung leather and wood chair to the side of the bed and sank back. She just needed to rest a moment. Quiet time seemed a luxury. She never realized how tired she was until she sat down. She stretched long legs out in front, then turned on her side and tucked one leg underneath her. She raised slightly to glance at Dan before crooking an elbow and resting her head on her arm.
    Long shadows had pushed into the room when Elaine awoke. Her watch said five-thirty. And her stomach signaled it was long past time to put some food in it. Had she even eaten that day? Not that McDonald’s would be her usual choice of restaurant, but she had a furry dinner partner waiting on her, which greatly narrowed dining choices.
    Simon seemed thrilled with the attention and a cheeseburger but was ecstatic when he realized he wasn’t being left in the SUV after they got back to the hospital parking lot. Elaine clipped the leash in place, admonished him to be quiet, then led him around to a side door. So much for trying to sneak in, they almost literally ran into the floor nurse going off duty.
    Elaine started to explain, but the nurse simply shrugged, “I don’t see a thing. Just keep him quiet and in the room with you.”
    Easier said than done when it came to keeping Simon quiet after he’d seen Dan. Pulling him back from putting both paws on the bed, Elaine finally let him rest his head next to Dan’s left hand and watched as Simon repeatedly nudged it with his nose.
    â€œEasy, Simon. I don’t think your master’s quite ready to play yet.” There was no way to dampen his enthusiasm and the squeaky whining seemed a little loud. Elaine walked to the door and shut it all the way. No need to attract attention. When she turned back, she caught her breath. There was a hand on top of Simon’s head gently patting the big dog and stroking his ears.
    â€œHi.” The grin was a little lopsided and the voice thick.
    â€œHi, yourself. I’ve spent a night on a lumpy cot by your side and it takes a dog to wake sleeping beauty?” It felt so good to tease again.
    â€œYour nose probably isn’t as cold or wet.” Dan’s laugh ended in a fit of coughing.
    â€œEasy. How ’bout a drink of water?” At the affirmative nod, Elaine quickly put the bent straw in the glass on the side table and poured water from a small plastic pitcher. Hoisting the bed higher by stepping on the electric pedal on the floor, she held the glass while he drank. “Better?”
    â€œWhat’s better is seeing you.” He caught her wrist with his good hand. “I’m sorry about Ireland…again.”
    â€œAs we keep saying, it’ll wait on us.”
    She bent down, kissed his bandaged forehead, and then pressed the red buzzer pinned to the bed sheet. “Need to let some people know you’re back among us.”
    ***
    She took a protesting Simon back to the SUV but this time climbed into the backseat beside him. Dan’s room was going to be crowded for awhile—adjusting or removing machines, running several tests—she’d go back in an hour.
    â€œI think we’ve won this round,