Roger glanced at the clock as he reentered the waiting room. Ten PM. It had been a long afternoon. He was surprised to see Joanne still there. She stood up as soon as he came in.

"How is she?"

Maureen and Mark stared at him, waiting for an answer. "She'll be okay. She's still out. Doctor said she should be coming around in a half hour or so and then they'll get her moved up to a regular room and let me know."

"Oh thank God," Joanne sighed.

Maureen relaxed against Mark's shoulder.

The waiting room phone rang. An older man answered it and started talking quietly. He turned to the group.

"Any of you Roger Davis?"

"Yeah, that's me. Thanks," he said, crossing the room. "Hello?"

"Roger, it's me. How is she?"

"She's okay, Mom. Broken arm and leg and some stitches, but she'll be fine."

"Oh thank the Lord…I know I said I'm coming but the car broke down. I had to have Mrs. Hansen drive out to pick me up."

"It's okay, Ma. You okay?"

"Oh I'm fine, honey. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing okay."

"Well, I'll have the mechanic over tomorrow to look it over and be there as soon as I can."

"Okay."

"You tell Maria that Grandma's coming, okay?"

"I will."

"And give her a kiss for me."

Roger smiled. "I will."

"Call me if there's any change at all."

"I will."

"I love you, honey."

"Love you too, Mom."

He hung up the phone and returned to the group. Maureen yawned.

"Sorry. That was my mom. She just wanted me to know she can't make it over here tonight. You guys don't have to stay. Now that we know she's okay and everything."

Mark stood up. "You sure?"

"Positive. Thanks, guys."

Maureen yawned again. Mark offered a hand to her and helped her to her feet. "We'll come back tomorrow, sweetie."

"Okay. Thanks."

He hugged each of them goodbye and sat down as they drifted into the hallway. Joanne was sitting beside him still.

"You don't have to stay," he said.

"Do you want me to leave?"

He shook his head. "No but you have to work tomorrow. It's already after ten."

"Already called out of work. When I went to get coffee, I called my boss."

"You did?"

She nodded, blushing.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Roger spoke again. "I, um, I was seeing Mimi after we broke up."

"That's okay."

"It is?"

"Roger, you're allowed to date. Especially after a break-up."

"Are you, um…I mean, did you…sorry, that's none of my business."

Joanne smiled. "Well, no it's not. But no, not anything serious. Date here and there, but nothing past a lousy first date."

"Really?"

She nodded and Roger stared down at his lap. "Mimi told me she loves me."

"Oh…"

He shook his head. "It was just before the doctor came to tell me Maria was out of surgery."

Joanne nodded. "I…um…I hope you guys are happy."

"I'm not. I don't love her. I mean, hell, three months and she couldn't make a commitment…She just…I mean, tonight…"

"Roger, if you want me to say something, you gotta finish a sentence," she said with a small smile.

"Sorry. I just…Tonight, this afternoon, she kept just wanting to talk about us. Here at the hospital while I was waiting to hear about my daughter's condition. All she could talk about was her and I…it's like she didn't understand that it's my kid."

"That's not what you need."

"I know."

"So does she know, um, any of what you just told me?"

"I don't know. I kept trying to tell her that I didn't want to talk about us. Then she said she loved me and the doctor showed up and when I got back from seeing Mar, she was gone."

Joanne nodded. She tried to think of something to say.

"Mr. Davis?"

They looked up and saw the doctor. Roger stood up. "Yes?"

"Maria's being moved up to the children's ward. Room 396. I'll show you now."

"Is she awake?"

"Yes. And asking for you."

Roger smiled. He turned to Joanne. "Come with me?"

She stood up, smiling. They followed the doctor to the elevator. Roger reached out and held her hand for a nervous instant before pulling back. He was surprised, and pleased, to feel her hand slip into his a second later. The doctor led them down a hallway, pausing outside one room.

"Okay. She has her own room for now. We'll want to keep her for about week," he said. "There's a cot in the room as well for parents."

They nodded and the doctor excused himself. Joanne let go of Roger's hand.

"Aren't you coming?"

"You should see her alone first," Joanne said. "She needs you. I'll poke my head in and say hi after you two have had a minute."

Roger smiled. "Thanks…for staying and for…I don't know, everything."

Joanne blushed. "Go see your daughter."

Roger smiled to see Maria sitting up slightly in the bed. He went and sat in the stiff chair beside the bed.

"Hi there, sweetheart."

"Hi, Daddy."

"How you feeling?"

"I hurted my arm. And my leg."

"I know, princess…The doctors are gonna make you all better though. They already said you'll be okay."

She nodded. "Okay."

He held her hand in one hand and stroked her hair with the other.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For playin' in the street. I know I wasn't a-'posed to, but Uncle Benny said it was okay."

"It's okay, honey. It's not your fault."

"You're not mad at me?"

"Of course not, Mar. I'm just happy you're okay."

"I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too. Hey, you know what?"

"Hmm?"

"Grandma's coming to visit tomorrow."

Maria smiled. "I like when Grandma visits."

"And guess who's here now?"

"Who?"

"Joanne."

Her smile grew. "Can I talked to her?"

Roger nodded. "I'll go get her."

Joanne sat outside the hospital room stifling a yawn. It had been a long day, but she was determined to stay for as long as Roger needed her, as long as Maria needed her.

"Joanne?"

Roger's whisper made her turn.

"Maria would like to see you."

She smiled and stood up, following him into the room.