And she couldn’t stop wishing that Eve would release Bonnie.

Or, dear God, that Bonnie would release Eve.

EVE WALKED SLOWLY DOWNthe corridor toward the ICU.

Soon she would be able to see Joe again. He’d be pale and drawn, his features appearing as cleanly carved and beautiful as the visage on a tomb. It would scare her to death as it always did.

But it scared her more not to see him and to imagine him slipping away with her not by his side.

That was where she should always be. Next to Joe.

If God would let him stay with her. And if Joe still wanted her if he did come back. The memory of that last day at the lake house was suddenly before her. His eyes looking down at her as she sat in the swing.

“I can’t be easy. It’s not my nature. But it’s my nature to love you.”

And it was her nature to love Joe.

Please be better, Joe. Be awake. At least, have more color.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Duncan.” The ICU nurse was coming out of the unit. “May I get you anything?”

“Yes, permission to go sit with him.”

She shook her head. “Not yet.” She hesitated. “But the doctor said that maybe we should let you go to him soon.”

She stiffened, her heart leaping. “He’s better.”

The nurse shook her head. “I shouldn’t have said anything,” she said quickly. “Dr. Jarlin will talk to you.”

Fear surged through her. “You talk to me, dammit. He’s worse?”

The nurse was looking at Eve with that same sympathy and kindness that had struck terror in her heart since she’d brought Joe to the hospital. “Dr. Jarlin will talk to you. I’ll call him and tell him that you’re concerned.” She hurried back toward the nurses’ station.