Lyman gave y''s shoulder a reassuring pat. "You''re going to be fine," he said firmly. "I''ll find the best doctor out there to help you."


    y looked at him gratefully. "Thanks, man. Really."


    After a while, Lyman and the others filed out, leaving only Grace behind in the hospital room.


    y nced at her and said, "You can go now."


    Grace scoffed, folding her arms. "You think I want to stick around? Trust me, I can''t stand you either."


    But y just chuckled. "Too bad we''re stuck with each other, like it or not."


    Normally, a remark like that would have set Grace off immediately. But this time, she just smiled-though there was something unsettling in her expression.


    y hesitated, narrowing his eyes. "Grace, what are you up to now?"


    She shot back, "You''re in no shape to boss me around, y. Not that you ever could."


    He opened his mouth, but she cut him off.


    "It doesn''t matter," he said with a wry smile. "As long as we''re still married, you can''t do anything too crazy."


    Grace snorted, settling herself in a chair with her phone. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed y reaching weakly for a ss of water. She looked away, pretending not to see. Let him go thirsty for all she cared.


    Just then, the door swung open.


    Grace quickly dropped her phone, sprang to her feet, and put on her best helpful act. "You should''ve called me if you were thirsty, y! Here, let me get you some water."


    "Daddy!" Andie burst into the room, arms stretched wide, ready to leap into y''s embrace.


    But as soon as she caught sight of Grace, she froze, going silent and still.


    y''s face lit up at the sight of his daughter. He stretched out his arms. "Hey, Andie."


    Hearing his voice, Andie''s tension melted away. She reached for him, eyes bright. "Daddy, hug!"


    Oh, how y wished he could scoop her up and toss her in the air like before, spinning her around until she squealed withughter. But now...


    "Daddy?" Andie nestled into y''s arms and peered up at him, curious.


    Her weight pressed on his injured legs, making him wince, but he couldn''t bring himself to let her go.


    Grace noticed the pain flickering across y''s face, but said nothing. She almost enjoyed watching him suffer.


    "Andie,e here, sweetheart. Come to Grandma," Lindy Etheridge coaxed gently from the doorway.


    But Andie clung to y, refusing to let go. As long as her daddy was there, she wanted no one else.


    It took ages, but eventually Andie drifted off to sleep. Only then did Lindy have the housekeeper lift Andie away.


    Even so, Andie''s small hands clung tightly to the nket, as if letting go would mean losing her beloved daddy for good.


    Lindy turned to y. "When you''re discharged, all of you shoulde stay at my ce for a while. There''ll be people to help and you''ll recover faster."


    Grace jumped in, "That''s really not necessary, Godmother. I can take care of him."


    But y saw right through her. He knew Grace wanted to stay with the Etheridge family, but only if it made things harder for him. There was ne way she''d actually let him move in.


    was no


    Not that y wanted to live with the Etheridge family either.


    "That''s very kind of you, Mrs.


    Etheridge," he said politely. Det


    physical therapist for me. They''ll be ·


    starting soon, so we''ll manage