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He should have told her thethe blurred vision, the pinpricks in his fingers, the tiredness He should have told her the night her grandfather had died Before then

Instead, he’d pretended that everything was fine, not letting on that he was having symptoms of any kind

He’d thought he was saving her pain by delaying, but the more tishis symptoms, his fears to himself

He should tell her now

He opened hisher the truth “I’m just busy”

That wasn’t what he’d meant to say Not even close

“OK” She didn’t sound convinced He didn’t blame her His unusual behavior confused her Hell, he was pretty confused himself

Silence buzzed over the line, acutely broadcasting that change was eminent whether he wanted it or not

“I looked for you after I finished my shift They told me you’d already left for t

he day Are you co over? I could order take-out” Her voice held hopefulness

“Not tonight,” he ed to say What if he had another episode of pain? Hoould he explain it to her? “I had a long day and am tired” True He see to Alpharetta in theand want an early start”

A lame excuse and they both knew it An avid pilot of his own Cessna, a scheduled trip had never stopped hi to Jackson, to see the specialist, to find out the truth behind his symptoms

Which hy he’d lied to her

He didn’t want her to worry, didn’t want her sympathy, didn’t want her to possibly be tied to another invalid Liz deserved a life

“If you’re sure, then…” She hesitated,him want to tell her how much he needed her, just to have her wrap her ar would be OK, that she’d be there for him no matter what those damned tests showed