After three hours of sitting in the surgical waiting room, Diana was the first to leave, going home to nurse Christopher and help out Laura, who, along with their neighbor, June, had stayed with the kids. Andy and Jed sat across from Neil, chatting and taking turns pacing with him. Brad and Rodney sat on either side of Neil, and he could feel their support. Brad had long since ripped off his tie, shed his suit jacket, and rolled up his sleeves. He was so much like Jed. The two of them lived in their scruffy jeans and hated wearing anything formal. Neil could go either way, and he enjoyed days and nights of dressing up in his finest. It was who he was, and for so long he’d pictured Candy beside him. His dream had evolved over the weeks they’d been together, and he pictured her on his arm, d
