Ten minutes later, perched on a chair next to Josh’s bed, watching the parental Ping-Pong match, she revised her assessment of his parents. “Loving but bonkers” was more like it. Josh’s father had the smiling, friendly air of a car salesman, while his mother could have been a spokesmodel at the same car lot. She was slim and polished as a painted figurine. They both liked to talk—a lot. Suzanne had barely said hello to Josh when the two of them burst through the door in a whirlwind of words. As if they were racing to see who would get the first word in.
“Josh, sweetheart.” His mother won the race by ducking down to kiss him on the cheek. “Haven’t I told you a million times you should quit that silly job? It’s just too dangerous.”
“Ignore her, for your own sanity.” His father strode to th
