Heartsong (Logan 2)

During this week Cary had taken over his

father's role and actually had some very good days at

sea, which he said buoyed Uncle Jacob and helped his

recovery. I didn't go back into the CCU with them, but

two days after they moved Uncle Jacob to what they

called Step Down care, I accompanied the family on a

visit. I noticed that Uncle Jacob avoided looking at me

the whole time and then, just before we were about to

go home, he whispered something to Cary. As we

were all leaving the room, Cary asked me to remain. "My father wants to talk to you privately

again," he said. "We'll wait for you in the lobby." I looked at Uncle Jacob, but he kept his eyes

closed and lay back on his pillow. It wasn't until the

others left that he opened his eyes. Actually, they

snapped open, and he gazed at me with that all-toofamiliar look of accusation.

"Cary said you wanted me to stay for a few

minutes?" I said, approaching his bed.

"Yes." He looked away, sipped some water, and

then turned back to me. "He tells me I asked to see

you while I was in the CCU."

"Yes," I said, surprised that he had to be told.

"It was only for a few minutes, but--"

"I have no memory of this, but my doctors tell

me I could easily have hallucinated and said

ridiculous things. You are to disregard anything I

might have said under the condition I was in," he

ordered. "I hope you haven't gone blabbering any of it

to anyone."

"No. I wouldn't do that," I said.

"Not even to Kenneth Childs?" he asked, his

eyes shifting to me.