Week fifteen brought a parade of visitors that both comforted and exhausted Emma.
Caroline arrived first on Monday morning, her arms full of magazines—glossy fashion publications, architecture journals, even a few guilty-pleasure celebrity gossip rags.
"I wasn't sure what you'd want to read, so I bought everything," Caroline said, arranging the magazines on Emma's bedside table. "Though I suspect the tabloids are more entertaining than Architectural Digest when you're stuck in bed."
"You'd be surprised. I've been reading the same issue of AD for three days. I've memorized every floor plan." Emma accepted Caroline's hug carefully, mindful of the IV line. "Thank you for coming. You didn't have to."
"Of course I did. You're family." Caroline settled into the visitor's chair, the one Alexander had vacated an hour ago to attend a meeting. "How are you really doing? Not the brave face you show everyone. The truth."
