第84节

    【】otherwas

    late.shefiguredshedtleointercepther.that

    entarysore.

    offshe.shehnfideilshereachedtheer,

    theandranuntilsheha

    bus.nooneelseeantthateitherthebushadjust

    eorthereall.itdidntrunduringtheer.she

    uldntreeray.

    foralongti,shestoodtherehherbak,

    thinkingthatshesandthatit

    titheydidsothing.sheshiftedfrototheother.she

    satdofoottofoot

    likearuhingwas

    happening.sheknewas.

    sheshruggedoutofthebackpado

    seeifshehadenoughneyforataxisdeliveredandthe

    buscadoheroad.

    bauerhurriedin.sodidbates,on,andeveryoneelseonthe

    flooronitorshowed

    irovedoxygenation,thegaspinger,andwhileherlips

    thesoftpinkthatjackloved,theyelyless

    blue.

    thereightstillbeatose,but

    everythingindieive.

    longaftertheyillgrinning,breathingoneloud,

    relievedsighafteranainstrachelshand.then,becausehe

    ohugherandithadbeentoolong,heslidhisarunder,

    carefullydretedherupperbodytohis.shefeltthin

    andli,hisryfleshedheroutandgavehershape.sheslled

    hospitale,hisohreadsofpaintthinner,his

    iginationsuppliedlilies.heclosedhiseyesoearsand

    gaveseveralreiensesighs.

    hedidntkno

    all.

    herineiling.

    verygently,hesettledrachelintothepilloouldhaveswo

    herlipsorepinkthantheyhadbeenkedherup,

    andguessedthatitholdingher,perhapsfroeaessorthe

    geofposition.inanycase,itifyingsight.

    ”steveetheneherinesaid.”hewasnearly

    asexcitedasietothebed.”thisisagoodsign.a

    goodsign.”jackthoughtso,too.asfarasthedoctorswere

    hediehadfinallykickedin.asfarasjackwas

    nhelhadbeenlisteninginonhisionhdavid

    andhadreactedhasho.hewasgrinningagain,

    grinningstill.hefeltsotired,sogood,soshocked.”katherine,i

    justdeepsiredjob.”

    ”you”hetoldheraboutdavidsvisit.”wellbedissolving

    thefir”

    ”gro.besides,

    youhaveana.youhenever,wherever.”

    ”yeah,toofbigsur,butthatsrachelsturf.

    foralliknoe.”

    ”isthatyouthink””idontknotothink,sinceshe

    isnttalking.youreherbestfriend.youveheardherside.doyou

    thinkshednsidergivingitary”katherineheldupher

    hands.”notplacetosay.”

    ”youknoeahint.”

    arrying”

    ”rerrying,”jacksaid,sia

    teon.sayit.

    ibigboy.”

    ”itsnotthat.itsthis.onecrisisisover,buttheoes

    on.

    youeriesofhohebestof

    tis.butifitisnteverlikethatagainifshewakes

    upandtalk””hroughthisbefore.”

    ”abraihatshetthinkthe

    oifshetuandittakesto

    paint

    ortookaal,ordriveacar,orbathe””whyareyouobsessed

    eanstoloverachel.”

    ”butistic””iot,”shecried,thenposed

    herselfandsaidaquieter”iot,butiuldbe.iuldassu

    
    cerhasspread.forayearortydiagnosis,ipanicked

    everytiifeltapain.thenidecidedthathopetero

    go.ichoosetobelievethatilllivetogrothereareno

    guarantees.ifibeeinvolvedeooknohat.”

    ahhh.jaderstood.shesheoask

    stevebauer.jackuldarguethatrachelssituationore

    trautic.ifkatherinehareeofcer,

    thereentandressionand,still,thepossibilityof

    sogoodti.ifrachelentallydiherewouldbe

    nothing.

    no.thatething.butitwouldbe

    different.

    heguessedthatdunhadexperiencedhfaith.lifeafter

    theact.dungedjobs.heleaedtodo

    thingsaroundthehouse.hegaveupchofheir

    lives,allbecausehelovedfaith.

    ifthatold,leatheryountainnulddoit,jack

    certainlyuld.

    ohingtrust

    thatanyoneelseuldtakecareofherthewayhewould.

    hesaidaquiet”youdidntansyquestion.doihaveace

    isthefeelingthereoherinelookedpasthit

    sothingandbrightehenfroostasquickly.

    jacktuedtofindhopeatthedoor.herhairessofblond

    hlessandsy.wideeyeshel.

    hestartedtosheranpasttothebed.”ikne”she

    ile.”ikhingwas

    happening,onlyididntknok,

    juingupanddoiling,sgkisson

    thecheek.

    raightened,shebreatheoutasatisfiedsighandlooked

    triuhantlyfroacktokatherineandback.

    jackfeltasthoughheoughttosldher,butheuldntfigureout

    for.itherinehroatandsaid,

    ”uh,jack,ybeyoushouldhoolbeforetheycalltheps,

    aheheshyou”katherioretutok

    hadtocallhislaorebraidsin

    rachelshair.bythetisheannouncedshekwas

    starved.hetookhertolundoontereyauedtothe

    h

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