“Where is he now?”
“Wisconsin. Small town outside Madison. He works maintenance at
an industrial manufacturing plant.”
“A doctor works maintenance?”
“Apparently.”
“And Mia?”
Lauren paused.
“His daughter.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
Of course.
The little girl clutching the rabbit.
The child who had said her father promised never to do this again.
“Get me discharged.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Lauren.”
“You had cardiac arrest less than twelve hours ago.”
“I need to see him.”
“No. You need a cardiologist.”
“I need both.”
—
Three days later, Ethan returned home with Mia.
The furnace was still grinding.
There were two envelopes in the mailbox.
One electric bill.
One school notice.
Normal life.
Beautifully, brutally normal.
Mia dropped her backpack by the door.
“Can we make grilled cheese?”
