Crystal debated about correcting him again about her relationship with Laura but decided it didn't matter at the moment. "Do I turn up here somewhere?"

"Go up about three more lights and take a right." Turning onto the side street, Crystal followed the twists and turns until Bobby pointed at the house at the top of the hill. "That's it right there. You can pull into the driveway but don't block the garage. My car needs a new clutch but Mom's is working fine."

After handing the keys to Bobby, Crystal followed him inside the old house. She stopped just inside, her eyes following the multitude of framed pictures lining the walls. Guessing they were school pictures, Crystal looked at the image of a young Laura with pigtails and braces smiling at her. Her gaze moved from one picture to another, watching the years go by and Laura transform from a young tomboy to a high school beauty and then a college graduate. Looking at the opposite wall, Crystal noted that equal space was given to Bobby's photos. He opened a set of double doors. "Here's the den," he said. "The file cabinet is unlocked. I'll go get Mom's purse and keys."

"Okay. I'll get the papers for you." Crystal watched him ascend the stairs before she entered the den and walked past the large wooden desk. As she had been instructed, the file cabinet was unlocked. Several thick folders filled the top drawer. Unsure which one was needed, Crystal grabbed them all. Now how to carry all of these, she thought to herself. A quick look around revealed a battered briefcase sitting next to the desk. It took some maneuvering to squeeze all the folders into the case. There. Now I know I've gotten the folder she needed. Hearing Bobby still wandering around upstairs, Crystal took a minute to look around the room. A lighted display case in the corner carried a variety of ribbons and trophies. Looking closer, Crystal realized most belonged to Laura's father but one shelf contained a neatly organized stack of trophies all proclaiming Laura Taylor as the winner of one tournament or another. I wonder if my mother ever kept anything we did in school. On the wall next to the trophy case, Laura's high school and college diplomas sat proudly in ornate frames. Surrounding them were other awards Laura had won growing up. Crystal reached out and touched the wooden frame of the high school diploma. Look how proud they are of you, Laura. Even though you don't live here anymore they have all your things still out. They probably have your finger-paint handprint buried in a box somewhere. Standing alone in the den, Crystal swore she could feel the love the Taylor parents had for their children. You're very lucky, the blonde thought to herself. Hearing Bobby heading down the stairs, Crystal picked up the briefcase and switched off the lamp.

"Did you find them?" he asked as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Yes, I think so. I just grabbed all the folders in the top drawer." Crystal held up the briefcase.

"Good idea. I think that was Dad's case."

"Oh, I didn't know," Crystal apologized.

"Don't worry about it. It's not like we can't use it or anything," he said. "I was going to take it with me to college if Mom didn't get me a new one. Bring it. It might make Laura happy to see something of Dad's."

By the time they returned to the hospital, Laura was sitting in the waiting room hunched over her planner. "We're back," Bobby said, announcing their arrival. He walked over to an empty chair and slumped down, emotionally drained from the day's events.

"Good." Laura looked up, surprised by the briefcase in her roommate's hand.

"I didn't know which folder you wanted so I brought all the ones I found," Crystal explained, handing over the case. Laura set the case down on the table and opened it.

"It would have been okay if you looked inside the folders to see what they were," the writer said as she did just that. "This one is all my important papers and I bet that one is Bobby's papers. A quick check confirmed her guess.

"Yeah well

I figured you'd be better off doing that," Crystal said as she pulled a chair over. It's not my place to snoop through your family's personal papers. Laura opened one of the bigger folders and began looking through the papers. "Do you want some hot chocolate or coffee from the vending machine?" she asked, looking for something useful to do while they were waiting.

"No, not yet thanks," Laura said without looking up from her task.

"Did you get a chance to see your mother?"

"Briefly. She's resting right now." Laura paused and looked up at Crystal. "I see why Bobby was so worried. She looks fifty pounds bigger than she usually is. The doctor said it was the fluid building up in her system."

"But they can take care of it, right?"

"They think so. He said it depends on how she responds to the IV they're giving her." Laura tried to sound hopeful but there was something in her voice that made Crystal believe her roommate was putting on a front.

"Did you call Jenny yet?"

Laura shook her head. "I called the relatives but told them to stay home until we know more. I figured if things got worse then I'd call Jen. You are going to stay here with me for a while, aren't you?"

Crystal nodded, secretly pleased that Laura wanted her there. "I'll stay as long as you want me to." She was surprised to feel the writer's hand touch her knee.

"Thanks," Laura said. "I'm glad you're here." She looked back at the papers and exhaled loudly. "I'd better get back to this. Fortunately Mom has everything organized. These first papers are about her insurance. The stuff in the back is things from her lawyer and about the house." Several papers were removed from the folder and set aside.

"Hey, why don't you sit back and relax for a few minutes?" Crystal offered.

Laura shook her head. "I can't. I have to take care of everything." She looked over at her brother. "I can't ask him to do this." "He's not a baby, you know," the younger woman reminded. "He's going to college in a few weeks."

"That's right, he is," Laura said. "What am I going to do with her? Someone has to stay with her now." She began shuffling through the papers. "Does her insurance cover home care?"

Crystal felt woefully out of place. Hospitals were places she visited rarely and dealing with the possible loss of a parent was not something she ever worried about. She briefly let her mind wander, wondering if her parents were still alive. The thought naturally led to wondering about her older sister and Crystal was lost in another time when Laura tried to get her attention. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked if you minded getting us something from the machine? I think I could really use something with zip right about now." "Hot chocolate or coffee?"

"Hmm, caffeine and sugar or chocolate, caffeine and sugar. I'll take the hot chocolate."

"You got it," Crystal said, standing up. "Bobby, do you want something?"

"Coffee with cream and sugar would be nice," he said.

"I'll be right back," she said softly to Laura, taking the offered handful of change. I'd better get a coffee for myself too. Looks like it's gonna be a long night.

Crystal had been correct about it being a long night. It was after two and Laura showed no sign of wanting to leave the hospital. Several times the Taylor siblings went in to check on their mother while she quietly kept watch of their belongings in the waiting room. Bobby was now sound asleep across several chairs while Laura continued to look through the family papers. "Maybe you should go home and get some sleep," Crystal said after noticing yet another yawn from her roommate.

"No. I want to be here in case Mom wakes up."

"They told you she probably wouldn't wake up until tomorrow."

"They've been wrong before. I don't want her to wake up and be alone," Laura said firmly.

"At least give yourself a break from doing all that stuff with the papers." She pushed a steaming cup of hot chocolate toward Laura. "You let your last cup get ice cold before you drank it. Sit back for a minute and have some before this one gets cold too." Deciding that subtle wasn't working, Crystal picked up the cup and held it in front of her roommate. "Drink."

"I don't"

"Drink," Crystal repeated firmly. Her persistence worked as Laura finally took the cup and drained half of it before setting it on the table. "Happy?"

"Yes." And it was true, Crystal was happy Laura was listening to her. It was an odd role reversal for the blonde and she hoped she was capable of being the supportive friend Laura needed. Looking over at the sleeping teenager, Crystal remembered the talk they had in the car. "Laura, you know Bobby can take care of whatever needs to be done with your mother's house while she's here."

"I can handle it," the dark haired woman said without looking up from her stack of papers. "He needs to worry about getting ready for college." "What does he need to do? He already graduated from high school. He's been accepted wherever it is he wanted to go." "Union. He got accepted at Union."

"Union. So what else is there for him to do? Pack up the things he needs for his dorm room? No reason why he can't pick up the morning paper and the mail. He probably does that for your mom already. He's not a little boy anymore."

"It's not for him to take care of things." Laura picked up her pen and scribbled a note in her planner. "I have it all under control." "Whatever." With a sigh, Crystal gave up and leaned back in her chair. You're too stubborn.

"Where is" Laura flipped through the papers. "I can't find it."

"Find what?"

"Mom's other policy. She's supposed to have supplemental insurance to cover what the Army benefits don't. I can't find it but it has to be here somewhere."