Read More Than Friends for Free Online

school.
    "J.D.?" Teke prompted in a guarded tone. He glanced up to see her looking past him and turned to find his parents on the far side of the window.
    The sight of them made his stomach jump. It had been doing that for forty-one years and was one of those givens, like heartburn from pizza. Forgetting his anger, he joined them in the hall. "I thought you were in New York," he said to his father.
    "I took an earlier flight home," John Stewart informed him. "My secretary had the good sense to call. You should have."
    "I just got here myself."
    "How is he?" Lucy asked. She was impeccably composed and groomed, remarkable given the circumstances --then again not remarkable at all. Her morning activity, seven days a week, was putting herself together for her afternoon and evening activities. By the time she left the house at noon, whether to lunch with a friend, attend meetings of the ladies' committee, or fetch her husband from the airport for a trip to the hospital, she was eminently presentable.
    J.D. related what the doctor had said.
    "Bill Gardner?" John Stewart asked. He was an inch taller than J.D. and ten pounds heavier, imposing even before one heard his robust voice. "He's not the best man. The best man is Henry Finch. He's at the Mayo Clinic."
    J.D. dared state the obvious, albeit in a conversational tone.
    "Michael's here, not in Minnesota."
    "Fly Finch in."
    "That may alienate Gardner."
    "But he doesn't know anything. You just said that."
    "It's too early to know much."
    "Call Henry Finch." It was an order. "Talk with him. His presence as a consultant will keep Gardner on his toes."
    Lacking the will to argue, J.D. took out his date book and jotted down the name. He had barely returned it to his pocket when his father said, "Any lawsuits here?"
    "Too early, Dad."
    "It's never too early to make sure evidence isn't destroyed. Sam ought to know that. I understand he was there when it happened. Why wasn't he at the office?"
    "He had driven home to tell Annie about winning the Dunn case. Did you hear?"
    "I heard."
    "Not bad, huh?" J.D. asked, allowing himself a small smile.
    "Not bad."
    J.D. would have liked more enthusiasm. Victories over his father were few and far between. But John Stewart wasn't the humble type. He was stern, efficient, and intimidating. That was another reason J.D. liked having Sam in the firm. Sam was a buffer. He could stand up to John Stewart as J.D. couldn't. He could play devil's advocate without worrying that he had insulted John Stewart or let him down or, worse, embarrassed him.
    The senior Maxwell glanced from his watch to the nurse's station to Michael. "Why is Theodora the only one in there?" Theodora. John Stewart and Lucy always called her that. It sounded more proper. More upper-crust. It was ironic, J.D. mused, given the spineless way she was acting now.
    "The others are in the waiting room," he said.
    "Where is Michael's nurse?"
    "She's at the central station. The machines monitor his vital functions and relay the information there. That's the whole purpose of intensive care."
    "You need a private nurse."
    "Not in intensive care, Dad." J.D. felt the distinct urge to flee. It, too, was a familiar feeling where his parents were concerned. "I have to call the office. You go on in and see Michael. I'll be back soon." He left before his father could order him to rent a portable phone. By the time he returned, his parents were gone. Feeling instantly stronger, he went to the foot of Michael's bed. From what he could see, the boy hadn't moved. Nor had Teke. Leigh and Jon were there, Leigh talking softly to Michael.
    "I can't believe you're sleeping through this, Michael. Everyone wants to see you. Mrs. Baker drove the twins in with Josh, Tommy, and Nat, but the nurses are making them stay in the waiting room. Same with half the football team. They're all rooting for you." Her voice cracked. "Wake up, damn it."
    Jon took her hand. "We'll be back, Mike," he said. He looked nearly as upset as