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vehicle ahead.
    A few minutes later, the ambulance pulled into the hospital’s emergency vehicle area. Tru dropped Jenny and his mom at the main entrance, while he looked for somewhere to park. Luckily, he found a space quickly.
    After jogging back to the main building, Tru found Jenny and his mom in the far corner of the crowded E.R. waiting room. Jenny was perched on the edge of a hard, plastic chair, her attention focused on the double doors leading into the treatment area. His mom sat to her right, pretending to read a tattered magazine.
    “Any news?” he asked.
    “None.” Despite her flat tone, the tremor in Jenny’s voice betrayed her emotions. “They’re running tests. They said it would be a while.”
    “Okay. Well, you’d expect that with a suspected stroke.”
    She nodded without taking her eyes off the doors.
    Unsure what to say to ease her haunted expression, Tru sat beside her.
    “You don’t have to wait,” she said stiffly. “I’ve already taken up enough of your time.”
    “I won’t leave you here alone.” He braced himself for her protest, but it never came. Instead, she nodded again and kept staring straight ahead.
    The E.R. doors swished open.
    Jenny jerked at the sound, her gaze flying expectantly to the nurse who’d appeared. When her name wasn’t called, Jenny’s shoulders drooped and she slumped back in her chair. After a few minutes, she pulled herself rigidly upright and the vigil began again.
    The cycle of anticipation and disappointment was repeated many times over the next hour. Each time, Jenny’s face grew paler and her body took a few moments longer to recover.
    Each time, his chest squeezed a little tighter.
    Tru hated feeling useless. At least on that terrible night years ago—when she’d finally admitted she was being abused—he’d been able to hold her, so the warmth and strength in his touch would comfort her.
    Now all he could do was watch with her, and wait.
    The depth of her emotional reaction made him wonder what the deal was with Harry. Jenny had worked for him since she was eighteen, but she acted as if they were really close. Like family. Like a lover?
    Was Jenny sleeping with her boss?
    Jenny’s personal life is none of your damn business. Hadn’t been for years. Yet the thought of her sleeping with the older man made Tru’s stomach turn.
    “Jenny Martin?” A nurse’s voice cut into his thoughts.
    Jenny jolted. She leaped up and rushed over to the woman in green scrubs waiting by the E.R. doors.
    Tru rose to follow her then hesitated. Jenny wouldn’t want him with her.
    “Go.” His mom nudged him. “She shouldn’t hear the news alone.”
    Jenny didn’t acknowledge his presence when he joined her.
    “Let’s go over here.” The nurse led them to some chairs at one side of the waiting room.
    “How is Harry doing?” Jenny asked anxiously.
    “His vital signs are strong, but he hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”
    “Do you know why?”
    “They’re still doing tests and it may be some time before they have an answer,” she said. “We’d like to admit Mr. Sturridge for observation. Could you help with the paperwork?”
    “Of course.”
    At that moment, a too-thin redhead in a figure-hugging green dress and matching spiked heels rushed into the waiting room. Tru recognized the type—rich, spoiled, nervous wreck.
    She spotted Jenny and hurried across the room. Her expensive perfume preceded her; its cloying spiciness didn’t mix comfortably with the antiseptic smell. “Harry Sturridge. Where’s my father? What’s happening?” she wailed.
    Before the nurse could answer, a man sauntered through the entrance and came over to join them. His deliberately rumpled linen suit and just-rolled-out-of-bed hairstyle marked him as the nervous wreck’s brother.
    His sister collapsed into his arms with a loud sob. “I’m so glad you’re here, Irving. I don’t know what to do. Poor Daddy.”
    “Who’s in charge around here?” he demanded, as