Page 68 of Double Exposure

Landing is smooth and a team of five is ready to greet us. Carter is whisked away almost before I can exit the vehicle. Riley stays with me and we wait for Ross to cut the engine.

Then we three move inside and try to find Brock.

It takes me half an hour to understand why I’m so hot. Riley is the one who tells me to take my coat off.

I was just here, not three days ago, waiting to hear about my dad.

Now, the only other man in the world I love is here.

Why?

Because I wanted to take pictures of water.

΅

Four hours later, my mom walks through the hospital doors. I almost don’t recognize her in black skinny jeans, that purple turtleneck, and a coat. Brock rises and introduces himself again. He, too, is pale. There has only been a short discussion on the phone with his mother about Carter.

All we know is that he needed surgery to close the artery. He might also lose his leg. That’s when Helen arrives. Ross had to leave with Jace and Riley to fish out hikers caught breaking through ice on a shallow pond. No fatalities, but they needed to be extracted.

The remaining Westons try to involve me in their cloister but I know I’m on the outside. They all greet Mom and then she turns to me.

“Mom, why did you come?” I take her by the elbow across the room so we can have some privacy. She should be with Dad.

“Because you need me right now.”

I know Dad was released earlier than expected. He’s back at The Lotus Crane, sleeping, according to her report.

Instead, she sits with me and reaches for my hand.

I let her hold it. We sit in silence for a few minutes and then something extraordinary happens. She decides it’s time for one of those moments. Without looking at me, she starts.

“Did you know there is something to be said about the power of longing. Your generation, may never know this.” She sighs and grips my hand again. “I know I sound old fashioned and I appear old fashioned and your father and I have a somewhat old-fashioned relationship. But longing is a lovely thing.”

I have no idea where she is going with this, but I am suddenly grateful she’s here.

“In this digital age, everything is available at the push of a button. Everyone is so ready to be on to the next new shiny object—well, I'm not sure that's healthy. There's a lot of benefit to having every need met immediately but . . .” she trails off.

“But?”

“But there is lot to be said for waiting. For longing for a person.”

I’m aware that some veil just slipped away. I look at my mother in both puzzlement and appreciation.

“I’m longing right now.”

My mother shakes her head. “This isn’t longing. This is hell. I just went through this, remember?”

I swallow.

The door opens and Dr. Harrison appears. He looks troubled. I realize all these people work together. He’s probably friends with the Westons. Mom drops my hand.

“Go,” she says.

I hesitate for a moment, then Brock’s gaze finds me.