Scott jumped out, bounded up the steps and jostled his way through the crowded front lobby. A Lady’s Auxiliary volunteer started to ask if she could help, but Scott dashed by her unheeding. He swung left and ran along the hallway to ICU, where he thrust open the doors and darted inside. Approving smiles greeted him. Unmindful, he moved quickly past the bank of monitors to Kath’s corner room. The bright-colored curtains were drawn and Scott shouldered his way through them. Caroline was sitting cross-legged on the window ledge. And Kath was propped against a mound of pillows, sipping water from a Styrofoam cup through one of those bent-elbow straws. She turned slowly toward Scott, her usually shiny eyes dull, and it seemed to take her a moment to recognize him, a moment which dragged painfully for Scott. Then she moaned “Daddy?” and her little arms reached up for him. Scott rushed forward, then slowed, sitting gingerly on the bed beside her.
