Chapter 40 No Emotion (One)

• When I get back to my room, I find Sebastian, his wife Carol, and little baby James waiting for me. My mood improves immediately, although not by much, and I smile gratefully at them. Sebastian hunkers down and gives me a heartfelt hug, which I return heartily, breathing in his familiar smell. Hugging him feels like home but in a brotherly way.
• If anyone had ever told me that I would come to think of Sebastian as a ‘brother’ some three years ago, I would have laughed their face off. I glance at Carol to see if she’s uncomfortable with this display of emotion that her husband is giving me, but she clearly isn’t. I wonder how refreshing it must be to be sure of your partner.
• She’s beaming at me and waiting her turn to give me a hug, which I accept gratefully. Then they place baby James in my arms, and immediately my mood brightens, after he gives me a two-toothed smile, and immediately reach for a strand of my hair. Tugging on people’s hair is his favorite pastime.