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a tight ball, and picked up a rubber band. The band snapped across her fingers, hit the mirror, and landed in the sink in four pieces.
    Battling back tears of frustration, she scooped up the fragments and threw them into the trash. She located a new band, tested it, and wrapped it around her loose ends.
    Rae settled on her bed and booted up the laptop. She needed to brain dump information to complete a file and e-mail another to her boss. She also wanted to verify her credit limit had been increased so she could schedule a flight home. Two days. She shoved loose ringlets of hair out of her eyes, and powered up her computer. She could endure just about anything for that long if it meant saving her father.
    The screen was black. What now?
    She unplugged it, pulled the battery out, and tried again.
    Nothing.
    Damn. Damn. Damn.
    She couldn’t boot up her computer correctly anymore?
    The third try offered similar results. She searched her bag and quickly realized she didn’t bring the electrical cord either. She’d packed in too big a hurry.
    Frustrated, she pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. Why does everything have to be so impossible lately?
    A few calming breaths later, she snagged her cell. Before she could punch in the hospital’s number, Daegen knocked on the open door. His phone was to his ear. Her heart stuttered as she waited for him to say something.
    He mumbled a few uh-huh’s into the receiver, then focused on her.
    “There’s someone you should talk to,” he said, holding out his cell. “Your father.”
    “What? Can’t be. He’s not communicating with anyone.”
    “His mind has changed.”
    “He blocked phone calls,” she said, still stunned.
    “That won’t happen again. I think you’ll find he’s ready to speak to you now.”
    How on earth? Rae didn’t waste another second trying to figure out how Daegen had worked this miracle. She accepted the phone.
    “Dad, what’s going on?”
    A heavy sigh sounded. “I’m sorry about before. Figured you’d hit the door and start worrying about yourself for a change if I pushed you away.”
    “Don’t do that to me again. Ever. Okay?”
    Another pained breath. “I won’t.”
    “I can’t come see you right now. I’m away on business,” she lied, deciding it was best if he didn’t know she spent all her time trying to help him even when she should be at work. “How about you? How are you feeling?”
    “Tired. Can’t hold on much longer.”
    “Yes, you can. The doctor said you’re one of the strongest men he’s ever seen,” she lied again, figuring he needed encouragement more than absolute truth. Rae didn’t know how to quit. Thank God she hadn’t inherited his defeatist attitude.
    Rae couldn’t bear to think about her father giving up. Why couldn’t he fight? If not for himself, then for her. A well of panic rose in her chest. Her throat tightened. The air thinned. She wished for one second Daegen had stayed in the room. His presence provided comfort it shouldn’t.
    “I’ve got nothing keeping me here but you. I hate to let you down twice.”
    “I need you.”
    “No. Dear child. You don’t. I’ll only drag you down. You’re young. Got your whole life ahead. You don’t need someone like me draining your time and cash. Spend your money on yourself.”
    “I have plenty,” she said with confidence she didn’t own. At least she knew why he’d tried to push her away before. It was his way of protecting her.
    “These bills are too much for anyone to pay. I can’t stand you wasting your savings like you are. If it were up to me, you’d stop. Don’t want to be a burden to no one.”
    “You’re not. We’ve already discussed this. I’m helping and that’s final. We’re going to beat this. You’ll be well before Christmas.” What was it about talking to her father that reduced Rae to feeling lost and alone, that same six-year-old who’d kicked, screamed, and begged him not to leave her with the CPS worker?