That morning Martin walked downstairs into the kitchen. His dad was making breakfast.
"Well," Mr. Brewer said, "You're up somewhat early."
"Couldn't really sleep," Martin said with a yawn.
"Care to tell me why you're in town?"
"I didn't tell you?"
"You called said 'Dad I'm coming home.' You hung up got here two hours later threw your clothes in your room and left. Then I don't see you for hours and you end up coming in at 11 last night."
"So?"
"So. You have got to explain yourself."
"Ruthie went into a coma. She was hit by a drunk driver."
"They let you stay at the hospital that long?"
"I had to leave at eight. spent an hour thinking in the car. Two hours in the park."
"You really care about her, don't you?"
"She's my best friend, Dad. We lived in the same house for two years."
"But sometimes friendship can be something else..."
"Are you saying I think of her more as a friend?"
"Maybe."
"Well Dad. you're wrong."
"Martin. I'm never wrong."
"Now you are. I'm going to take a shower and get over to the hospital."
"You're spending a lot of time there."
"She's my best friend Dad. I know she would do the same for me."
"Okay, Martin," Mr. Brewer laughed out. He knew his son loved Ruthie.
That morning around 8:30 Rose woke up on the couch. She went in the kitchen and saw Kevin cooking.
"Hi," Rose said.
"Hi. I came in about 20 minutes ago, when Lucy and Simon left.Figured you had the boys and Savannah last night I can take morning duty."
"Thanks," Rose said and started to make herself some cofee.
"Why the sudden change of character?"
"You know the story about my baby brother? Well. I hated it when I found out my parents were going to have him. I wanted to be their only kid. I kept wishing he would go away, but when he was born, he had to be put in a incubator. I saw him and thought it's my fault. I wished it and got it. I kept hoping he would get better so we could do all that stuff big sisters do with little brothers but it never happened. I wanted Simon to be here for Ruthie. So he could have his chance. So he could have his Daniel. Or in this case, Ruthie. I wanted to make it better in anyway possible."
Kevin stood there silently.
"Promise to keep a secret?" Rose said with a smile. "I had so much fun watching the kids last night. I haven't told Simon yet, but I think I might switch my major to children's care or child psychology."
"That's good for you. You seem like you would be good at it with some practice."
"I know. I know. Christmas with Sam and David. Not my best moment."
"If you want you can head down to the hospital."
"I will. But I need to get back to campus so I might leave later tonight."
At the hospital Simon, Matt and Lucy are there. Annie and Eric spent the ngiht there.
"Do we have any news?" Simon asked.
"Nope," Matt tilted his head back.
"So when is Sarah getting here?" Lucy asked.
"Her plane is getting here at 3:30," Matt said.
"Hey," Annie came out of the room. "How's everything?" She got nods from everyone. "Anyone hear from Mary?" She recieved nods of no. "What time is it?"
"I think it's like 10:45," Lucy answered looking at her watch.
"Okay. The doctors haven't seen any dramatic changes in Ruthie's condition. She'll probably be like this for a while."
20 minutes later Lucy, Simon and Mat are still sitting there silently. They hear two people coming over toward them.
Matt glances up to see who it is then glances down. "Oh hey Mary."
The three of them jerk their heads up. "MARY!"
"Miss me anybody?" Mary said and shrugged.
"How'd you? Why'd you? When did you?" Lucy said very confused.
"We caught the 8 AM flight from Buffalo," Mary said hugging each one of them.
"We?" Simon asked.
"Me and Ben," Mary said like it was no big deal.
"Ben?" Matt, Lucy and Simon said in unison.
"Yeah. He's the one who convinced me to come out here."
"Well, where is he?" Simon said.
"Dropping our stuff off at the house. I'll either take the garage apartment or one of the bedrooms," Mary said. "Lucy I think Ben is planning to crash at your house."
"We have the guest room. It'll be fine," Lucy said.
"So... how's she doing?" Mary said finally getting up enough courage to ask.
"No major changes to her condition," Matt said.
"I'll go get mom and dad." Simon went to the door of the hospital room. "Guys. There's someone here who I think you'll want to see."
"Who?" Eric said and got up he looked out the glass window. Mary smiled and waved to him. He ran out to hug her followed by Annie. "I guess we got all the Camden kids here."
"I talked to a doctor 15 minutes ago," Annie started. "If her condition is still stable around 4:00 they'll let everyone see her."
"Do they know if... she'll make it?" Mary said. Asking the question no one truly knew the answer to.
"I don't know," was all Annie could let out.
They all stood silent.
Martin was getting into his car when his cell phone rang.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Martin. It's Sandy."
"Hey. How's Aaron."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Is he okay?" Martin asked with a bit of worry in his voice.
"He's fine. But I want him to get tested to see if he is really yours."
Martin stood their silently.
