Chapter 74

Luca let go. 23: “I want the truth, doctor, what condition is my son in?”

It was nearly midnight when the doctor came.

It had been…a long, dull wait. A nurse had come running for Mamma Alessandra around eleven, but otherwise…there had just been a thousand-year wait in a little waiting room off some unidentifiable corridor. No news. No word. Nothing.

They’d waited more or less in silence. All of the Jensens had come, even Luca’s younger brothers, and they’d refused to go home when Mr. Jensen had made vague noises about bed. Everyone was just…grey and quiet. Tav had dozed on his mother’s shoulder, giving in to the childish desire for a hug, and she had let him without comment, just stroked his hair occasionally and stared off into the middle distance.

It had been idle torture—and then at five to midnight, shoes had started squeaking on the shiny tiles.

They were all on their feet when the doctor rounded the corner.