Page 72 of This Loving Feeling (Mirror Lake)

“Of course not, sweetie,” Carol said. “I’m just going to show a few of my friends before I frame it and put it next to my pillow.”

The EMS vehicle slowed nearer to the hospital. The rain was washing down in buckets now, the wipers snapping back and forth in overtime. Red and blue police lights flashed in the distance.

“What’s going on?” Sam asked.

“I’m sorry guys,” the driver, Charlie Pollick, said, “but it’s a zoo out there. TV cameras, news trucks. They’re actually blocking the entrance to the ER.”

Ben gave a curse. “Shit, Spikonos. Really?”

“Told you you shouldn’t have gone and gotten all high and mighty like that, Dr.Ben,” Lukas said. “I’ve been banged up worse in bar brawls.”

Ben levered him a look. “Trust me, Lukas, if my sister didn’t like you so much I’d be tempted to open the doors and let you slide out.” He spoke to Sam. “I want you to go home.”

“What? No way,” Sam said. “I’m staying with him.” She scootched a little closer to Lukas, just to get her point across.

“He’s fine,” Ben said. “There’s no way we can get you into the hospital without fifty people taking your picture. Is that what you really want?” But he was looking at Lukas when he said it.

Lukas tightened his grip on her hand. “He’s right, Sam.”

“I don’t care about that. Let them say whatever. Let them take my picture. I want to stay with you, Lukas.”

“You’ll be on every social media outlet in minutes,” Lukas said. “Not to mention the cover of every supermarket rag for weeks. If we wait to be seen together, we can at least control things. Besides, Stevie’s still at Ben’s. He needs to be picked up.”

“The kids are with Gloria and Maurice,” Ben said, “and all the adults just left the dinner to head home. Let him stay the night with us.”

Lukas squeezed her hand. “I’ll be fine. Maybe you should listen to your brother.”

How Samhatedthat phrase, but Lukas looked genuinely worried. Then he flashed that perfect lopsided grin that could stun a hundred charging groupies. “It’s going to be okay,” he said. “We’regoing to be okay.”

She believed him. God, she believed him. Finally they were on the right path together... if only they could actuallybetogether.

“Look,” Sam said, “I don’t want the media to tell us how to live our lives. I’d like to come with you. I don’t care if I get photographed.”

He couldn’t move his head but his eyes conveyed a sense of worry. “I’d just as soon have you go home where you’ll be safe.”

“We can probably drive you around to another entrance,” Ben said. “It’s your decision.”

“My decision.” She grinned. “I’m staying.”

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