Penn nodded his affirmation. "Just like that."


    Wayne had taken the kids to the hotel, spinning tale after tale, the kind usually saved for cozy winter nights by the firece. Little Ivy, who normally fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, was stubbornly fighting off sleep tonight.


    After one story, her eyelids had be almost too heavy to lift, but she still insisted, "Tell me another one..." By the end of the eighth story, Ivy couldn''t resist the call of sleep any longer. But Cory was still wide awake.b2


    "I''ll walk you out," he said, his round eyes misty.


    "Alright, buddy," Wayne replied with a nod.


    Then they tiptoed from the bedroom, one after the other.


    In the suite''s living room, Baillie was chatting with Penn. They both looked surprised to see the duo emerge.


    "Dr. Lange," Cory approached Penn, "Is my dad getting better now?"


    Penn knew that Rosalynn and Wayne''s son wasn''t quite like other kids, but he hadn''t expected such maturity from someone so young.


    "Yes, he''s improving a lot. Your dad has been very cooperative with the treatment. I believe it won''t be long before he cane home," Penn said softly.


    "Can you make sure he doesn''t get any thinner?" Cory''s resolve broke, his voice quivering and tears brimming in his eyes.


    Wayne was taken aback. Subconsciously, he touched his own arm, not having noticed any significant changes in himself. His heart nearly shattered.


    "Sweetheart, daddy''s been gaining a little weighttely, you know. The treatment was tough in the beginning, and that''s when I lost a bit more. But I''ve been getting better slowly. I promise that when dades home, he''ll be healthy, okay?"


    "Okay," Cory nodded, then added, "Thank you."


    "You''re wee." Penn''s own eyes misted as he affectionately ruffled Cory''s hair.


    Cory cleaned his tears. Then he turned and walked over to Wayne.


    Wayne, with reddened eyes, crouched down and opened his arms.


    Cory walked into his embrace without a word, rested his forehead on Wayne''s shoulder, and then, with a sob, said, "Come home soon."


    "I will," Wayne hugged Cory tightly, "Hang in there, buddy."


    Cory didn''t speak, but he nodded.


    Usually soposed, today Cory stayed in Wayne''s arms for a full five minutes before slowly pulling away. Then, obediently, he waved, "Goodnight, daddy. See you." Penn took Wayne away.


    On the way back, Wayne silently shed tears, clutching a photo from a family camping trip Rosalynn had given him,minated and preserved.


    He caressed the image of his beloved over and over without a sound.


    Penn didn''t speak the entire way. He wanted Wayne to feel the relentless surge of love around him.


    It was a cliché, but in Penn''s view, it was effective.


    True love can heal all wounds. It''s the strongest motivator and the most indestructible armor.


    Love had once been a shackle for Wayne, the violence of a diary, an inescapable fetter. Now, Penn wanted Wayne to redefine love for himself.


    Once he seeded, that would be his moment of breaking through the clouds to see the sun.


    Across the ocean.Têxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Rosalynn sat alone in a cabin, looking at photos Penn had sent of Wayne ying with the kids.


    Beside her, the firece crackled and popped, its lively dance casting a warm glow in the small space.