d　been　in　the　hospital　。　。　some　kind　of

tests　for　his　heart。　Charlie's

forehead　got　all　pinched　together；　but　Harry　joked　with　him；　blowing　it　off；

until　Charlie　was　laughing

again。　Only　then　did　Charlie　ask　about　Jacob；　and　now　his　side　of　the

conversation　didn't　give　me　much

to　work　with；　just　a　lot　of　hmms　and　yeahs。　I　drummed　my　fingers　against　the

counter　beside　him　until　he

put　a　hand　over　mine　to　stop　me。

Finally；　Charlie　hung　up　the　phone　and　turned　to　me。

〃Harry　says　there's　been　some　trouble　with　the　phone　lines；　and　that's　why　you

haven't　been　able　to　get

through。　Billy　took　Jake　to　the　doc　down　there；　and　it　looks　like　he　has　mono。

He's　real　tired；　and　Billy

said　no　visitors；〃　he　reported。

〃No　visitors？〃　I　demanded　in　disbelief。

Charlie　raised　one　eyebrow。　〃Now　don't　you　go　making　a　pest　of　yourself；

Bells。　Billy　knows　what's　best

for　Jake。　He'll　be　up　and　around　soon　enough。　Be　patient。〃

I　didn't　push　it。　Charlie　was　too　worried　about　Harry。　That　was　clearly　the

more　important　issue—it

wouldn't　be　right　to　bug　him　with　my　lesser　concerns。　Instead；　I　went　straight

upstairs　and　turned　on　my

puter。　I　found　a　medical　site　online　and　typed　〃mononucleosis〃　into　the

search　box。

All　I　knew　about　mono　was　that　you　were　supposed　to　get　it　from　kissing；　which

was　clearly　not　the　case

with　Jake。　I　read　through　the　symptoms　quickly—the　fever　he　definitely　had；

but　what　about　the　rest　of

it？　No　horrible　sore　throat；　no　exhaustion；　no　headaches；　at　least　not　before

he'd　gone　home　from　the

movie；　he'd　said　he　felt　〃fit　as　a　fiddle。〃　Did　it　really　e　on　so　fast？