Who the next three days were the hardest on, was hard to say.

* * *

Laura was in a self-inflicted melancholy, as she kept replaying the hospital scene over and over again but with a much different ending; with her saying ‘yes’ to Fenton’s proposal.

But she didn’t and she only had herself to blame.

So she basically locked herself away in her room and wallowed in misery, refusing to talk to anyone – her brother included.

* * *

Fenton was confused. He had no idea what had happened and how he could have misread Laura so badly. It hurt when he thought about Laura, but unfortunately, as he convalesced first in the hospital, and then at home, there wasn’t much else to do but think of her.

He got out on day three and had to contend with his mother fussing over him during the day, and then both his Mom and Gertrude in the evening. Fenton was beginning to feel more then a little stifled.

A more feminine version of her daughter, Agnes Hardy had bright blue eyes and a no-nonsense approach which could make either of her children comply with her wishes, without even raising her voice.

His father, Francis Hardy – a recently retired patrol officer - stayed out of it, except for an occasional comment such as, “Just let them do their thing, son. With women you have to know which battles to fight – and my advice is to only fight the ones you know you can win.”

And then the older version of Fenton would lean back in his chair and read the paper; outwardly appearing oblivious to his son’s distress but inwardly chuckling, as he knew his youngest did not respond well to helplessness…and chafed under his overly attentive care-takers.

By the end of day three, Fenton was sure that this bullet was killing him… slowly, and under the disguise of love.

* * *

Or maybe the three days were the hardest on the man waiting for the Scott children to come out of their house.

So far, no luck. He needed them together, and the only one he ever saw was the boy.

He would just have to wait a bit longer…maybe one more day….

* * *

Paul was worried.

He paced the hallway outside Laura’s room and tried to get her to talk to him, but she wouldn’t.

The younger teen had no idea why she was so upset, when he thought she was in love with Fenton and would have wanted to marry him.

Woman, he groused, for the love of God, someone find this scenario in a book, so I can at least study for the exam!

His own girlfriend, Gwynne, had nothing useful to offer when he told her what happened. Except to try and distract him – it worked for all of a minute….

“Laura Mildred Scott, open this door now and talk to me!”

He was shocked when the door suddenly whipped open and his sister snapped at him, “Don’t ever use that name!”

And then she shut it again.

“Don’t ever use that name… don’t ever use that name…” he pantomimed sulkily and then said louder, “Mildred… Mildred… Mildred…!”

Whipping open the door again, Laura glared at him and then stepped aside.

Smiling angelically, Paul walked into her room and then sat down on her bed.

“Okay, talk,” he said.

Still scowling, Laura refused, and just stood there with her arms folded.

“Mil—“

“Okay…okay…but if I were you I wouldn’t be one to use someone’s middle name against them, so quickly. Especially a someone with a middle name like yours!” she taunted in a warning tone.

Paul just shrugged.  “I dare you.”

But she didn’t. Instead, she sat down beside him and leaned against his arm. Automatically, his arm encircled her shoulders and they sat like that for a while.

“You’re really scaring me, big sister,” Paul finally said quietly.

“I’m sorry,” she said with a sigh.

“Please talk to me, Laura,” he tried again, and he felt her shake her head.  “Why not?”

“Because,” she admitted, “it’s something I have to work out myself. You can’t help me this time, little brother.”

“I don’t believe that,” Paul countered.  “There is always some way to help, even if you don’t think there is. And even if it is just me listening to you ramble.”

She looked up into his vibrant blue eyes and snorted softly, “When did you become so wise, kiddo?”

He shrugged and gave her a sweet smile.  “When I got you for a big sister.”

“I got scared,” Laura finally admitted, after a heavy silence had fallen between them.  “I saw Fenton in that bed…with all that stuff on him and I got scared. And then, when the monitor went off…”

“Oh, Larry,” Paul said as he leaned over and kissed the top of her head and speculated, “you were thinking about all the time you spent there?”

“No,” Laura said, surprising him, “I wasn’t thinking of me at all. I was thinking of Fenton, actually…”

“So?” Paul pressed.

“So, what?” Laura replied.

“So what scared you?”

“How much I did love him, and how close I had come to losing him. Paul, I can’t go through that again….And I can’t ask him to change, either,” Laura admitted miserably.

“You lost me somewhere, sis,” Paul said, not following her logic.

Laura sighed.  “I’ve loved too many people…too many things, and lost them. I can’t go through that again, Paul. And when I saw Fenton lying in the bed, I remembered Dad saying that Fenton had been lucky, this time, and I realized I couldn’t do it. I can’t be a cop’s wife! I can’t always be wondering and worrying when the next time was going to be…or whether or not I would ever see Fenton again. I’m sorry for being so weak…so selfish…but…but…”

Paul grabbed her tightly and held on for dear life, because he knew she needed him too. But he didn’t know what to say. He was only 17 years old – and he had no idea what to say to her…or what advice to offer.

And he knew she was right. Laura would never ask Fenton to choose between the woman he loved or the job he loved – although Paul was pretty sure which the cop would pick…in a heartbeat.

However, his sister would never ask Fenton to make that choice.

But Paul could.

There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his big sister.