Forty-Five

ELLIOT'S POV

"Yes, Drew. I'm here," I said in response to Drew asking why I was silent for so long.

"Good," he continued. He paused, trying to get back his train of thought. "Yes. So, I got there and it was no surprise that I first encountered Katherine. She told me Zora and the kids went to the hospital, so a doctor could have a look at the kids to be sure they were okay. Kathy kept me company while I hung around, waiting for them to return... Hello? Are you still there?"

"Still here," I muttered.

Still here, I had said. That was a laugh. I honestly wasn't. My thoughts were miles and miles away and I was just barely holding everything in with a tremendous effort.

I had sent Drew to Zora after all, and I figured it was my duty to at least hear what he had to report. And so I reined in my emotions and lied that I was still here.

"...came in, looking radiant." Drew continued. In my abstraction, I had missed some of what Drew said, but I didn't bother telling him to repeat it as I a