"He's a contractor employee."
"You're the CEO."
"If he is qualified and interested in returning to engineering, we can create a fair process."
"Skills assessment."
"Open requisition."
"Interview panel that doesn't report directly to you."
"But don't rescue him."
Victoria sat back.
"You're right."
"I know."
Victoria almost laughed.
Nadine allowed herself a small smile.
"Executive coaching has begun."
Emma remained hospitalized through the weekend.
Her spleen had been repaired rather than removed. Her blood counts stabilized. By Saturday morning she was eating toast and arguing about whether hospital gelatin counted as food.
Lily remembered her.
Marcus had hoped she might forget.
Children do not forget emergencies involving other children.
Saturday morning, Lily sat at their kitchen table with crayons.
"What are you doing?"
"A card."
"For who?"
"The hospital girl."
Marcus opened the refrigerator.
"What hospital girl?"
She looked offended.
"Emma."
"You know her name now?"
"You told me."
"I made a tactical error."
The card contained two stick figures beneath an enormous purple rainbow.
One had brown hair.
One had black hair.
Between them stood something resembling either a dog or a badly drawn elephant.
At the top, Lily had written carefully:
GET BETER EMMA.
Marcus looked at it.
"You missed a T."
Lily frowned.
"Does sick care?"
"No."
"Then leave it."
Marcus laughed.
Fair.
They brought the card to St. Vincent's that afternoon.
Marcus had called first.
A nurse checked with Victoria.
Permission came immediately.
Marcus told himself they would stay ten minutes.
Children destroyed that plan.
Emma sat upright in bed wearing pink pajamas.
The moment Lily entered, Emma's face brightened.
"It's you!"
Lily stopped behind Marcus's leg.
Her courage evaporated.
Marcus held up the card.
"She made you something."
Emma took it.
Her eyes moved over the rainbow.
"Is that me?"
Lily nodded.
"You're skinny."
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Lily."
"What?"
Emma laughed.
Within five minutes, the girls were talking as though they had known each other for years.
Emma showed Lily the bed controls.
Lily showed Emma how to make Ollie's ears stand upright.
Victoria stood near the window watching.
Marcus could feel her attention but pretended not to.
Eventually she approached.
"Coffee?"
He looked at her.
"Hospital coffee?"
"I didn't say good coffee."
"Then sure."
They stood in the family lounge while the girls remained within sight.
Victoria held a paper cup.
"I asked HR to review the incident."
Marcus took a sip.
"You didn't need my permission."
"I know."
"They may contact you."
"Fine."
"I told them not to protect me."
Marcus looked at her.
"Do people usually protect you?"
"More than they should."
That answer was honest.
Victoria continued.
"I also learned something about Meridian's contract."
"That we clean things?"
A faint smile.
"Among other things."
She explained the benefits review.