Page 119 of Private Exhibit
Andy waited, feeling more nervous than he thought he might.
Finally, Crawford stood up and said, “Tell you what. How about you workwithme instead?”
“What do you mean?”
“Reopen Diagnostics. I'll easily grant that you were always a better diagnostician than any of us here. The hospital could use you again. The patients could use you. And if you get a patient whose mind is receptive to telepathy, just think of the diagnostics you'll be able to do.”
Andy's eyebrows went up.My gods. He could potentially find the cause of a problem without running a single other test. Spot cancers and infections before they really took hold. The possibilities were endless.
“Who knows,” Crawford went on. “Maybe we'll design new equipment together. More advanced scanners. Find ways to detect and treat problems that were always deemed incurable. And now that we know what Ashworth-Grahams really looks like…”
“We have a chance to design a medicine that actually works,” Andy realized aloud.
“Exactly.”
Andy couldn't help grinning with excitement. He couldn't wait to get started.
“Sound like a deal?” Crawford asked.
“Deal,” Andy agreed, shaking the man's hand.
“Good.” Crawford resumed his seat. “I'll talk to Bokin sometime this week.”
“About what?”
Crawford grinned at him. “We're going to need a bigger office.”
Andy went home feeling twenty years younger, thrilled by all the possibilities that life had to offer.
And that was all thanks to Devon. Thanks to the boy who saw so much good and beauty in the world and wasn't afraid to take the time to enjoy it.
Andy grabbed Devon the moment he walked through the door, kissing him like he never wanted to come up for air.
Devon swayed in his arms. “What was that for?”
“I just love you so much,” Andy murmured. “And I had a really good day.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. What about you?”
Devon's smile slipped. “Oliver decided he's moving out. He said he doesn't want to intrude on us anymore.”
“I told him he could stay as long as he wanted.”
“I know. But I'm all better now. I don't need someone watching me every moment. And he insists he has to get back up on his own two feet.” Devon paused. “I respect that, but it's gonna be hard to see him go.”
“You'll still see each other all the time, I'm sure.”
Devon nodded.
Andy tilted his head. “Alright. What is it? What else is on your mind?”
Devon blushed.
“What are you really thinking about, sweet boy?” Andy murmured.
Devon squirmed. “I was thinking about the night we met.”
