Larissa's POV
After Dr. Coleman disappeared down the hallway, Joe shifted his attention to me with that knowing look I'd grown to recognize.
"Your boyfriend carries some serious weight around here," he observed, crossing his arms.
"He's just trying to be helpful," I replied, my voice sharper than intended.
Joe held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm not complaining. Just noting that it's nice when someone uses their connections for good reasons."
The hours crawled by in a haze of medical updates and hushed conversations. Mom dragged herself back around dinnertime, looking slightly more human after managing a few hours of actual rest. Harlan bounced in after his afternoon classes, armed with a worn deck of cards and an unshakeable belief that he could finally defeat Joe at poker.
I had dozed off in the uncomfortable vinyl chair when Carson's voice cut through my drowsiness.
"Coffee service," he announced softly, careful not to wake Dad.
