The nurse returned. “It’s hard. Seeing them like that. In some ways it’s harder than taking care of the preemies and the ones whose parents did everything right and still ended up with medical issues.”
“Thank you for letting me see her.”
“Go home and hug your children,” she said.
“No children.”
“I saw the wedding ring, and thought maybe you and your wife had kids.”
“Husband.”
“Oh. Well, that doesn’t preclude the idea you might have a family…if you want one.”
As Tristan walked to the hospital parking garage, he rolled the words of the nurse around in his head.
* * * *
The steps creaked slightly on the staircase to the third floor. Brian looked up from his computer to see Tristan coming into the room he now used as an office. “You look wiped.”
“Mmm. Long day.” Tristan flopped into
