Page 4 of Cryptic Curse

Grace sighs.“He insists.Claims the security team says no exceptions, not even for family.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

She shrugs.“It seems a little excessive, but I just work here.The guard should get here soon.In the meantime…”

I shake my head, pull my wallet out of my pocket, and flash her my driver’s license.“There you go.”

“Great photo!”She smiles.“I look like a caterpillar in mine.”

“How could you look like a caterpillar?”I ask.“I’m not even sure what that means.”

“I’m totally serious.”Grace reaches behind the nurse’s station and grabs her purse.She takes out her wallet and hands me her license.

Oh my God.Shedoeslook like a caterpillar.Her eyes are half-lidded, her mouth is scrunched into this awkward uncertain line, and her hair is slicked back so tightly she could pass for a larva mid-transformation.

I glance at her and then back at the photo.“Were you…molting?”

Grace snorts and snatches the license out of my hand.“It was raining.I had the flu.And I was running late, okay?”

“Still adorable,” I say, grinning.

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the blush creeping up her neck.“Shut up.”

“Never.”I smile again and then walk the few more steps to my father’s room, where the door is slightly ajar.

“Hey,” I say as I enter.

My father is sitting up in bed, his eyes open.His face is gaunt.He’s lost some weight.I suppose living solely on IV fluids and a food tube will do that to you.

“Hawk,” my mother says.“I’m so glad you’re here.”

Her voice is even.Artificially so.Is shereallyglad I’m here, or is that just what a mother issupposedto say when she sees her son?

She’s in a chair at my father’s bedside, holding his hand.I walk over, lean down, and give her a kiss on the cheek.Falcon and Savannah are standing at the foot of his bed.I nod to them.

Then I go around to the other side of the bed.“Dad, how are you?”

“I’m… The fence is good,” Dad says.Then he blinks his eyes.

“He hasn’t been making a lot of sense,” Falcon says.“The doc says he may have some aphasia.”

“Meaning…?”I ask.

“Meaning he knows what he wants to say,” Mom says, “but it doesn’t come out quite right.”

I frown.“I see.Does that mean he suffered a stroke?”

“We don’t know yet,” Mom says.“The doctor seems to think it could resolve on its own.But he’s going down for an MRI soon so they can take a look at his brain.”

“I see.”I squeeze Dad’s shoulder.“It’s great to have you back, Dad.”

“Hawk is the door,” Dad says.

I guess that means he recognizes me.

“Raven and Vinnie are on their way,” Savannah says.“And Robin too.”

“I’ll go out into the hallway and wait for them,” I say.“I don’t want Dad to get overwhelmed.”