Franki couldn't suppress her grin. "Funny. That's exactly what happened."

"Yeah, that's real funny. Hilarious. A real laugh a minute."

"Mr. Sternberg," chided the nurse who seemed disinclined to shed her dour mood. "I'm glad to see that you're awake and fully aware, but I think you should try and relax. I have to inform the doctor that you're awake, and then the police will want to speak to you."

The police. Franki's elevated mood evaporated on a breath. Craig obviously remembered what had happened. He obviously remembered everything.

"Relax?" Craig was whining. "I get the feeling I've been a bit too relaxed for quite a while. What day is it, anyway?"

"Now who won't shut up?" teased Franki.

He glared at her, but then, to her surprise, his mouth eased into a smile. "Well, then, I guess we're a perfect match."

Those few choice words speared her heart as surely as Cupid's arrow. She tossed a pleading glance at the nurse. "Could we have a few minutes?"

The matronly woman who had been the bane of Franki's day now stood with her hands propped on her ample hips, and raked her eyes over Franki from head to toe. "All right. You've got five minutes, but you better not try any funny stuff." Her lips broke into a grin. "A hospital can be a very lonely place. We don't want to give the rest of the patients ideas, now do we?" And with that she whirled and walked away toward the central reception desk.

"Ignore her," whispered Craig. "Have your way with me. Please."

She laughed, and was surprised to find a few more tears crowding their way out of her eyes. "Don't be silly. We have to wait at least until you get rid of your catheter."

"Oh," he said with a grimace. "I guess that could put a damper on things."

But then she leaned in and languished a soft kiss on his lips.

"What was that for?"

She stroked his cheek. "For surviving, and waking up, and not abandoning me."

"Oh. Is that all?" His wan smile wrapped around her heart, but then she felt her throat tighten.

"I'm sorry, Craig."

He frowned. "Sorry for what?"

"Derek. I feel responsible for what he did to you. And I know that you're going to have to tell the police

all about it. But I just have to ask you to hold off for a few hours."

"What?"

"Just to give him time to turn himself in. I know he should have done it sooner. But...he was so

distraught. And, I know it's no excuse, but he was drunk and-" "Franki!" His insistent tone startled her. "What?" "What are you talking about?" "What do you mean, What am I talking about? I assumed you remembered everything." "I do. But I didn't see the face of the person who attacked me. They were wearing a ski mask. They spoke in a whisper and it was so dark I didn't even really get a good idea of build or anything."

Franki's mouth dropped open. "Oh, shit."

"You're telling me your brother did this?"

"I...uh...I'm not sure."

"Franki..."

"Oh God, please don't hate me. I know what he did was terrible, and it just about killed me to see you

lying here like this. I was so worried you might not make it, and I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. But...but he's my only brother and I just couldn't bring myself to turn him in. He's just such a big dope, and he let Perry talk him into it-"

"God, will you be quiet."

She stopped her babbling.

"Like I said, you talk way too much." She could see the fatigue already glazing over his eyes. She should

go and let him rest. He would need his strength when he relegated her brother to the status of jailbird and scum of society.

She chewed on her lower lip and tried not to cry.

"Did you mean what you said?" he asked softly.

"What? The part about Derek turning himself in?"

She felt his hand brush against hers. "No. The part about how you couldn't stand the thought of losing

me."

"Yeah," she breathed. "I meant it."

"Okay." He closed his eyes, apparently already exhausted.

"Okay? Okay what?"

"I won't tell the police. I couldn't stand to see you hurt like that. If that's what you want, that's what I'll

do." Franki blinked stupidly. He couldn't be serious. People just didn't do that kind of thing. Derek deserved to be punished. Even she acknowledged that. She had hoped that Craig might give her just a little time to deal with things, but she hadn't expected him to make that kind of sacrifice. At least, not for her. "Franki." The nurse had returned and was holding a stethoscope to Craig's chest. Against all logic, her tone had turned soft and conciliatory. "You have to go now. You've done your job, but now he needs his rest, and the doctor is on his way in to examine him." "Oh...okay. I have to meet somebody, anyway." "Franki," rasped Craig around the thermometer that had invaded his mouth. "Tell Sloan thanks." She frowned. "For what?" "For sitting with me." She stared at him in shocked silence. Then whispered, "He'll be in soon. You can tell him yourself." He just nodded, and the nurse shooed her away. She turned around and walked slowly from the ward. Visions of mops and buckets and dust bunnies danced in her head, but, strangely, she couldn't seem to keep the smile off her face or the bounce out of her step.

In fact, she'd never felt better.

Carolyn leaned across the table and reached for his plate. "You hardly touched your steak. Are you feeling all right?"

He smiled and batted her hand away. "Let me do that. You even did the barbecuing tonight. The least I can do is clean up."

She didn't argue. She sat back down and reached for her wine glass. "All right. I suppose I'll allow it."

He chuckled as he reached for her plate. "That's awfully big of you."

She handed him David's plate, which had been wiped clean in a record seven-and-a-half minutes. He and a friend were already working it off at the basketball hoop in the driveway.

"You didn't answer the question," she said over the rim of her glass. "Are you sick?" He shook his head and opened the dishwasher. "No. I'm just tired. I worked hard this afternoon." Troy had already started the cleanup on his own. He needed something to do, and that seemed like as good a project as any. And as he scrubbed and straightened in that silent, old house that held so many memories, he had found his mind wandering over everything that had happened in the last thirteen years-over all his mistakes, and all his encounters with his family-and he had come to some conclusions and some decisions. They were disturbing, but they were long overdue.

Now he just had to decide what to do about them.

"And you're going back tonight."

He tensed. "It's important to me."

"No, no," she said hastily. "I didn't mean it like that. I don't mind that you're doing this, but are you

going to have help?"

"Yes. Bree and Franki are meeting me there at eight or so. But the house is already looking better."

"I could get a sitter and help too."

Startled, he turned to face her, a plate dripping steak sauce onto the dishwasher rack. "You want to?"

"Sloan's your friend. So he matters to me, too. I'm glad he's back in your life." She grinned. "I'm just

glad it turned out that I don't have to worry he'll steal you away from me."

He fought his own grin as he arranged the dishes for maximum exposure to the spray. "Nobody could ever do that." And he meant it.

He heard her chair squeak across the floor, and a moment later felt her arms around his waist. He

straightened and turned around to rest his cheek on her hair.

"So, do you want me to help?" she asked again.

"No. Thanks for the offer, but..."

"But it's just for you guys. The old crew. The Fearsome Foursome." She looked up at him. "Sometimes

I envy you that kind of connection to your past. I have friends from high school that I see, but it's nothing like what you four share." "Yeah," he whispered. "I guess we grew up together. Sloan's the brother I should have had." Suddenly, she pulled away. She grimaced. "I almost forgot. Perry called while you were out." He felt a brief surge of panic. "What did you tell him?"

"Nothing. I just said you were out. You don't want him to know what you guys are doing?"

Relief washed through him. "No. It's a surprise for Sloan, and I'm afraid Perry might let it slip."

"Okay." But he could see the doubt in her eyes.

He hated to lie to her, hated it more and more every time he had to do it. And lately he'd come to hate

himself. The lies had begun to grow, and take on a life of their own. They fed on each other and

multiplied like rats in the dark. But it had gone too far. There was no going back now.

He just couldn't bring himself to tell her, because then he'd lose her. And he'd rather hate himself with her beside him, than wallow in self-pity alone.

"Besides," he said with a playful tug on her braid. "Don't you have some kind of committee meeting tonight?"

Her face registered surprise. "Good grief, I almost forgot."

"No. You did forget. This year's summer Bible School probably wouldn't get off the ground if you didn't have me to keep your schedule straight."

She huffed. "I may not be terribly organized, but I have other talents."

"Yes. I know." He drew her to him again, and enclosed her in a strong hug. "You're dedicated and passionate. You have an unfailing sense of what's right, and you're beautiful to boot."

"Yes. So true." She ran her hands up and down his back. "You are extremely lucky to have me."

His response caught on his tongue when the patio door slid open and a sweaty David burst into the room. "Has it been long enough?" he panted.

Troy checked the clock. "Five more minutes." David had to wait forty-five minutes after eating before going into the pool.