A husband.
A father.
A widower.
And a man who carried far more responsibility than he admitted.
When Ethan called, Arthur was sitting at his kitchen table with a newspaper.
He listened.
Then stood so abruptly that his chair scraped against the floor.
"Which hospital?"
Ethan answered.
Arthur reached for his coat.
"Don't tell Lucy over the telephone. I'll collect her."
He ended the call.
For several seconds, he stood motionless.
Then he looked toward an old photograph hanging beside the kitchen doorway.
Daniel and Elise on their wedding day.
Daniel smiling.
Elise laughing.
Arthur standing behind them with one arm around each.
He touched the frame.
"Not again," he whispered.
Then he took his keys and left.
Lucy was in her photography class when the school secretary entered.
Her teacher looked toward the doorway.
Then called her name.
"Lucy, your grandfather is here."
Lucy frowned.
Grandpa Arthur rarely collected her from school without warning.
She packed her camera.
Closed her notebook.
Then followed the secretary into the hallway.
Arthur stood beside the office desk.
His expression was unusually serious.
Lucy stopped.
"Grandpa?"
He opened his arms.
"Come here, sweetheart."
She approached.
He hugged her.
For a moment, she was confused.
Then she felt his hands trembling.
Her stomach tightened.
"What's wrong?"
Arthur stepped back.
"Your dad had a medical problem at work."
Lucy went completely still.
"What kind?"
"He fainted. The ambulance took him to the hospital."
Her face drained of color.
"Is he dead?"
Arthur's expression broke.
"No, sweetheart."
She stared.
"No?"
"He's alive. They're examining him."
Lucy looked toward the office window.
For several seconds, she seemed unable to understand.
Then tears filled her eyes.
"Mom went to the hospital."
Arthur closed his eyes briefly.
He remembered.
Of course he remembered.
Lucy had been five when Elise died.
Much of the girl's understanding of serious illness came from those frightening months of hospital visits, quiet conversations, and adults trying not to cry in front of her.
Arthur knelt as much as his old knees allowed.
"Lucy."
She looked at him.
"Your dad fainted. That doesn't mean the same thing is happening."
Her lips trembled.
"Promise?"
Arthur swallowed.
He would not make a promise he could not control.
Instead, he took her hands.
"I promise we'll find out what's happening, and I won't hide the truth from you."
Lucy began crying.
Arthur held her.
Then, together, they went to the hospital.
Nora was standing outside the emergency department when they arrived.
She had changed out of her oil-stained outfit into a dark sweater and trousers brought by Martin from the Whitfield house.
Her hair was disordered.