“Stay with Claire,” Ruth said.

“I will be back as soon as I can.”

She opened the door and slipped out into the quiet, brightly lit corridor.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Daniel and me alone in the room.

The only sound was the hum of the air conditioner and the steady beep of my monitor.

Daniel walked over to the side of my bed and sat down in the plastic chair.

He reached out and took my hand again, holding it tightly between both of his.

“I am so sorry, Claire,” Daniel said, his voice thick with emotion.

“I lived in that house with you for five years, and I never knew.”

“I was so consumed by my grief for Evelyn, and my work, that I didn’t see what was right in front of me.”

“You don’t have to apologize, Daniel,” I said.

“Evelyn did what she had to do to protect the boys, and so did I.”

“But Marcus is going to use my illness against us tomorrow,” I said, looking at the IV line in my arm.