“With Winnie, a baby and your own business...”

“I know. Things will have to change somewhere...”

“I thought Ginger would be here at least another six months,” Iris said.

“It’s that loft. It’s a love nest. First me, then Ginger and Matt.”

“Have you warned Lin Su?” Iris asked.

“Warned me of what?” Lin Su asked, just coming in the front door.

Iris and Grace exchanged looks, then burst into laughter. “The loft—someone cast a spell on it,” Grace said. “Once a man and woman are alone together up there they tend to fall in love. So if you have plans that don’t include love and all its hassles, be careful who you invite upstairs to spend a little time.”

“Oh, thanks for the warning!”

“Um, was that a genuine thank-you or do you have someone in mind for the spell?”

“Me? Oh, hell, no! But I’ll be sure Charlie isn’t alone with a girl up there!”

“Come on,” Grace said. “What about your love life? Or at least your fantasies!”

Lin Su shook her head. “Not on your life. I’ve not only been too busy for a love life, I don’t even have time for fantasies. It’s me and Charlie.”

“Aw, that seems kind of lonely,” Grace said.

“It might be lonely for Charlie, but not for me. I’m afraid he’s the only guy I’m willing to take a chance on.”

“You know what the problem is,” Iris said to Grace. “We’re off wine, that’s the problem.”

“We used to meet here once in a while just to catch up. I kept a nice white wine chilled in the cooler, a couple of glasses in my office. It was usually the two of us but if someone else wandered in for a chat with wine, they never left here without telling the whole story.”

Iris leaned her head on her hand. “I miss those days...”

Lin Su laughed. “They’ll be back, ladies. I have to run upstairs to get something. I have a meeting with Scott.”

“Is it about Mother?” Grace asked.

“No, no—I wouldn’t meet with him about your mother and not tell you, you know that. Charlie had a couple of breathing tests and the results are in. I want to get my folder of his medical records.”

* * *

Lin Su usually carried the briefcase of records around with her as if it was a baby. There were always copies of records somewhere, but she feared losing her own file. And thank God she was so protective—she might’ve lost them in that madness of the destruction of her trailer.

But with the loft, she had no fear of such calamity and kept her briefcase next to the desk in the bedroom.

Lin Su had told a little white lie. There was always time for a fantasy or two. She’d had an attraction here and there over the years but not so much as a date. When the man you love and believe in offers you enough money to terminate your pregnancy, it’s a slap in the face that doesn’t go away quickly. Plus, Lin Su often worked two jobs or was between jobs. And there was always Charlie—there was very little time for socializing. When the opportunity did present itself, she often found herself with people who had children close to the same age or with nurses she worked with.

She’d had a brief fantasy about Dr. Grant, as a matter of fact. She was working in the Bandon hospital, he was on call and Charlie had a bad cold. Scott was always so encouraging, so positive, and there was the small matter that he was handsome and fun. With her usual great timing, she recognized her little crush just shortly before Scott announced he’d found a great new physician’s assistant. When Lin Su saw the way Scott looked at Peyton, she knew he was off the market.

She was actually relieved. There was no room in her life for a man, not even a man as wonderful as Scott. But she was deeply grateful for his friendship.

It being Saturday morning, there wasn’t anyone there, just Scott. When she walked in he was waiting and of course Scott asked where Charlie was. “He’s more interested in a game of chess with Mikhail than another doctor’s appointment. Especially just for test results.”

“Can’t say I blame him,” Scott said. “Well, the results are good. Not excellent but improved. We gave him a lung capacity breathing test before discharging him and another a week later and there was marked improvement once he was fully recovered from his asthma episode. Of course, Charlie will never have the capacity of a healthy fourteen-year-old who has never suffered asthma and bouts of pneumonia. But he’s in pretty good shape. His problem is—he isn’t going to fare well if he’s thrust into the need for a burst of physical stress like he was. It’s time for him to change that as much as possible, Lin Su. Charlie has to train. A steady buildup of physical exertion to strengthen his circulation, muscles and breathing endurance. It’s important he grow stronger.”

“Oh... I don’t know... We live in a better place right now.”

“Don’t think in terms of keeping him safe from bullies and a doctor’s pass from PE—think of other situations he could find himself in that can create the same disastrous results. What if he comes across a person in peril and has to run for help? Or what if he’s chased by a dog? Or what if he wants to test into a police academy? If he improves his stamina he can be ready for anything.”

“You mean, no more medication or inhaler?”

Scott shook his head. “Charlie will probably be on medication at least into adulthood and might be reliant on an inhaler forever, at least as necessary. But he can get much better than he is. More independent.”

“He already romps around the beach! He plays volleyball, he hikes.”

“He needs more training in controlling and understanding his asthma. I have a booklet for you—it’s really just an average overview for the typical asthma sufferer and...”

“But Charlie’s not typical!” she said, feeling a little panic set it. It felt like turning him out, setting him free—free of her care, her help. “He landed in the hospital, almost intubated! Very recently!”

Scott was shaking his head. “Not because his asthma is more critical than most, because he’s out of shape. Listen, an average kid with good lung capacity could exert himself and be weak and winded for a while, then recover. A kid with exercise-induced asthma is going to collapse, maybe suffer worse consequences. Charlie has been kept still too long, Lin Su. It was necessary, I understand. Now he has to build his strength, then he has to maintain his stamina. He stays on medication, uses his inhaler once a day, or maybe before or after some monitored exercise, improves his capacity slowly...”