“What do you mean, she’s gone?” Neil said. He stared at the freshly made, empty, hospital bed, which was waiting for another patient. Candy was supposed to have been released that morning.
He hadn’t gone right home to Emily and Brad’s after leaving the night before. He had driven around for hours, pulling into their driveway just before dinnertime. He had been greeted by icy glares from Emily, Diana, and his mother. Rodney had seemed distant but asked him how Candy was doing, and he had replied that she was fine, letting them believe he’d spent the entire time he’d been gone at Candy’s bedside. Andy and Laura were there, too, but only to say goodbye, as they were driving home at first light. Andy and Neil had exchanged a hug, and then Neil had disappeared upstairs to his bedroom.
Now, as
