Chapter 16

“You had us worried, honey,” Mother said. “Don’t do that again, okay?”

“I’ll try not to. Can I have something to drink?”

She poured some ice water from the ubiquitous pink hospital pitcher and placed a straw in the glass. “Can you sit up a little?”

Ambrose rose up on his elbows, and she bent the straw so he could drink more easily from the cup.

“Careful. Slow now. You don’t want to choke.”

Philip smiled. Always the crepe hanger.

“Hey, Phil,” Ambrose said.

“Hey, pardner. How you doing?”

“Okay, I guess.” Then he asked the mother, “You know, don’t you?”

“About your mother?” she said. “Yes, we know.”

“I have a great dad, though.”

“I’ll vouch for that,” Phil said. Unbelievably great

“And now you have us,” Mother said. “Doctor Clayton prescribed rest for today, and then you’ll be fine.”

“But you don’t live here,” Ambrose said. “How will I see you?”

“You’ll come visit us in San Jose,” she said, then looked over at Phil and winked. “And your father, too. Isn’t that right Phil?”