rs and nurses-all of it was now painfully familiar. He sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair outside his father's room, his tie loosened, da

Hen

her made his heart skip, even after six months of dating. She was wearing a pale blue sundress tha

s," she said, handing him one o

tter. The doctor says his vitals are improv

s!" She sat down beside him, placing her hand

ry day, bringing food, books, or simply her presence. Henry had never expected to find love in such circumstances, but watching her gentle interaction with his father, th

d have done without you," h

e been fine. You're stronger th

ther's room. "Mr. Wynthorne i

entered the room together. Robert Wynthorne looked frail a

stronger than it had been in weeks. "A

ly an angel, Mr. Wynthorne. Ju

etween Verity and his son. "Not everyone would

ther couples their age were going to parties and planning f

Verity said, and Henry c

had said earlier-Robert was improving steadily and could be discharged with

ized, looking pointedly at Robert.

ow serious this had been. His father never backed down from a

ry. "This means you'll need to step up more a

"Dad, we've talked about this. I have applications

ened state. "This obsession with the stars isn't going to put food on an

ded, though the words stung. His father had always dismissed his dreams as childish fantasies, unable t

t," he said, though t

--

here they'd had their first official date. His father was home now, and though he sti

f sparkling water. At eighteen, they weren't old enough for

inst hers. "And to you, for

on't thank me for supporti

eally seeing the words. His mind was on the stack of Cleveland Enterprises reports waiting

again," Verity said, not

ut wh

ll of it." She set down the menu and rea

't even finished the personal statement for MIT's astrophysics program. Dad keeps sending me c

" Verity asked, her

f humanity's next great leap." His voice grew passionate. "There's so much we don't know about the universe,

our father? Wynthorne Industries is his

g into his voice. "And I respect him for it. Bu

ow. Henry, your father nearly died. The doctor said stres

h the sentence. S

up my dreams?" Henry asked, w

dustries wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, you know. You'd be good at it.

her. "You sound

's respected. Successful." She leaned forward. "Henry, some people wou

ing slightly. "It always has been. Since I was eight years old

emory. "I remember. But Henry, that wa

heir orders in strained silence. When he le

. Help your father get the company back on stable ground. Then, if you still w

ng in her tone made him doubt. "Would you

ake it work," she said finally. "But I think you might find that

him uneasy. For the first time since they'd started dat

-