There was a collective murmur of relief at her words.

“Can we see him now?” Jane pressed.

“We can’t have all of you back there at once. There’s not enough room for everyone, and the doctor thinks it would be best if you let him rest a bit. The doctor said that one of you could go back there now, as long as you don’t visit too long.”

It seemed obvious that either Kate or Jane would go, but before any of us could speak, the nurse continued.

“Which one of you is Wilson Lewis?” she asked.

“I am,” I said.

“Why don’t you come with me? They’re getting ready to hook up an IV, and you should probably see him before he starts getting sleepy.”

I felt my family’s eyes drift to me. I thought I knew why he wanted to see me, but I held up my hands to ward off the possibility.

“I know I’m the one who talked to you, but maybe Jane or Kate should go,” I suggested. “They’re his daughters. Or maybe David or Jeff.”

The nurse shook her head.

“He asked to see you. He made it very clear that you should be the one to see him first.”

Though Jane smiled briefly, I saw in her smile what I felt from the others. Curiosity, of course. And surprise as well. But from Jane, what I suppose I sensed most of all was a sort of subtle betrayal, as if she knew exactly why he’d chosen me.

Noah was lying in bed with two tubes in his arms and hooked up to a machine that broadcast the steady rhythm of his heart. His eyes were half-closed, but he rotated his head on the pillow when the nurse pulled the curtain closed behind us. I heard the nurse’s steps fade away, leaving us alone.

He looked too small for the bed, and his face was paper white. I took a seat in the chair beside him.

“Hello, Noah.”

“Hello, Wilson,” he said shakily. “Thanks for dropping by.”

“You doing okay?”

“Could be better,” he said. He offered a ghost of a smile. “Could be worse, though, too.”

I reached for his hand. “What happened?”

“A root,” he said. “Been by it a thousand times, but it jumped up and grabbed my foot this time.”

“And you hit your head?”

“My head, my body. Everything. Landed like a potato sack, but nothing’s broke, thank goodness. I’m just a little dizzy. The doctor said I should be up and around in a couple of days. I said good, because I’ve got a wedding this weekend I have to go to.”

“Don’t worry about that. You just worry about getting healthy.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve still got some time left in me. ”

“You better.”

“So how are Kate and Jane? Worried sick, I’ll bet.”

“We’re all worried. Me included.”

“Yeah, but you don’t look at me with those sorrowful eyes and practically cry every time I mumble something.”

“I do that when you’re not looking.”

He smiled. “Not like they do. Odds are one of them will be with me around the clock for the next couple of days, tucking in my blankets and adjusting my bed and fluffing my pillows. They’re like mother hens. I know they mean well, but all that hovering is enough to drive me crazy. The last time I was in the hospital, I don’t think I was alone for more than a minute. I couldn’t even go to the bathroom without one of them leading the way, and then waiting outside the door for me to finish.”

“You needed help. You couldn’t walk on your own, remember?”

“A man still needs his dignity.”

I squeezed his hand. “You’ll always be the most dignified man I’ve ever known.”

Noah held my gaze, his expression softening. “They’re going to be all over me as soon as they see me, you know. Hovering and fussing, just like always.” His smiled mischievously. “I might have a little fun with ’em.”

“Go easy, Noah. They’re just doing it because they love you.”

“I know. But they don’t have to treat me like a child.”

“They won’t.”

“They will. So when the time comes, why don’t you tell them that you think I might need some rest, okay? If I say I’m getting tired, they’ll just start worrying again.”

I smiled. “Will do.”

For a moment, we sat without speaking. The heart machine beeped steadily, soothing in its monotony.

“Do you know why I asked for you to come back here instead of one of the kids?” he asked.

Despite myself, I nodded. “You want me to go to Creekside, right? To feed the swan like I did last spring?”

“Would you mind?”

“Not at all. I’d be glad to help.”

He paused, his tired expression imploring me. “You know I couldn’t have asked you if the others were in the room. They get upset at the very mention of it. They think it means I’m losing my mind.”

“I know.”

“But you know better, don’t you, Wilson?”

“Yes.”

“Because you believe it, too. She was there when I woke up, you know. She was standing over me, making sure that I was okay, and the nurse had to shoo her away. She stayed with me the whole time.”

I knew what he wanted me to say, but I couldn’t seem to find the words he wanted to hear. Instead I smiled. “Wonder Bread,” I said. “Four pieces in the morning and three pieces in the afternoon, right?”

Noah squeezed my hand, forcing me to look at him again.

“You do believe me, don’t you, Wilson?”

I was silent. Since Noah understood me better than anyone, I knew I couldn’t hide the truth. “I don’t know,” I said at last.

At my answer, I could see the disappointment in his eyes.

An hour later, Noah was moved to a room on the second floor, where the family joined him at last.

Jane and Kate entered the room, mumbling, “Oh, Daddy,” in chorus. Lynn and Debbie followed next, while David and Jeff moved to the far side of the bed. Grayson stood at the foot of the bed, while I remained in the background.

As Noah predicted, they hovered over him. They reached for his hand, adjusted the covers, raised the head of the bed. Scrutinized him, touched him, fawned over him, hugged and kissed him. All of them, fussing and peppering him with questions.