"I was on myyacht."
John's face lightened. "WithBelle?"
Peter placed his hands in his pockets and steadied his feet. "Yes, withBelle."
John turned his head and stared down the hall toward the elevator banks. "Why is shenothere?"
His family would likeBelle. She was real, and the Morgans all seemed to gravitate toward people that had a clear direction. Until he had met Belle he hadn't thought that important. His face felthotnow.
"I brought her to her hotel. Is Mominside?"
"Some Doctor Luke hasn't wanted to leave Mom's side, but he finally left." John waved his hands like he might stop him. "Vicki is speaking to her privately.Give them a fewminutes."
Peter's stance widened. John and he didn't look at each other. They both stared at the door. "Your new girlfriend went to bat for youtoday."
“She was trying to protect me.” Peter remembered how she confronted his family. No one had ever done that for him ever. His father had pretty much run his entire life until he died, and Mitch Morgan would have neverchosenBelle.
Peter swallowed and tugged on his collar. "She'snice."
John rolled back and forth on his feet without moving them. "That's pretty rareforyou."
Peter turned to stare at his brother. If his family didn't approve, it was their own problem, not his. "You told me todateher."
John nodded. "We were only looking out for you. Not everyone only sees dollarsigns, and Belleseemedreal."
So they did approve. Peter unclenched his hands that he didn't know he'd fisted. He stared atthedoor.
"You and Alice have goodtaste."
John snapped his fingers. "So things are goingwellthen?"
Peter tensed. They were now too interested. He would bury himself with something to do, but he stayed absolutely still. He'd see hismother.
"Yeah."
John turned to block the door and stare right at him. "Look, I didn't mean to fight with you. You're mybrother."
Peter tried to relax his shoulders. John was only trying to do what he thought was best. Peter pressed his hand on his brother'sshoulder.
"Don't worryaboutit."
John rolled on his feet again. "Fair enough. I don't want to fight with eitherof mysiblings."
Vicki then pushed the curtain back as she wiped tears from her eyes. Then she stood and smiled as she hugged thewoman'shand.
"Peter. Mom,Peter'shere."
This was surreal. The room was all white. As he stepped into the room, he stared at his mother. She had his dark hair once, though now she had more than a few grays. She had brown eyes that had haunted himall his life. In his memory, she was strong, but now he gazed at her wrinkles. She wasn'tthesame.
He leaned on the tray table someone had left food on. Her gaze stayedonhim.
He swallowed and stepped closer. This was like one of his dreams where his mother had come home. He had forgotten that. He ignored everyone else but her as he sat on the bed. Her hands reached out to touchhim. He choked on what he'd say and took her hand in his. The monitors beeped from brushing against the instrument attached to herfinger.
Peter then heard his siblings, and he turned to them, "Vicki. John. Can I talk to heralone?"
Vicki tugged on their brother's arm. "Of course. Takeyourtime."
Peter stared at his mother, who then reached out to touch his face. His heartached that she had ended up here. The monitor on her nose clearly measured her breaths. He waited for the clack of footsteps leaving the room to end. Then he reached out and brushed hercheek.
