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bode well.
    “I want to see you again in two months.”
    Hutch nodded. He stood and pulled a candy bar from his inside pocket. “I brought you something.”
    Dave accepted it and looked up expectantly.
    “We’re about to launch this nationwide. It’s called the Mount Saint Helens bar.”
    Dave turned it over and read the description. “Coconut covered with dark chocolate and a liquid chocolate center. An explosion of flavor.”
    “That’s what I’ve been working on for the last eighteen months. We finally have a national distributor willing to give us a shot.” His friend couldn’t appreciate how difficult it was to get into the bigger markets when he was up against the huge candy companies. Hutch believed in this new product and was prepared to gamble on the future of the business. So far, everything seemed positive— if he didn’t end up forking out millions over a frivolous lawsuit.
    Dave examined the packaging and Hutch could tell he was impressed. “Sugar’s not too high,” he murmured, “and 70 percent cocoa is good.”
    “Practically health food,” Hutch said with a smile. He began to turn away.
    Dave stopped him. “Two months, Hutch. Don’t disappoint me.”
    “I won’t.” He walked out of the office and galloped down four flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator. He couldn’t disagree with Dave about getting more exercise. But there just weren’t enough hours in the day. He delegated whatever he could but so much still demanded his personal attention.
    By the time he returned to his office, Hutch was fifteen minutes behind schedule. Gail Wendell, his personal assistant, relaxed her anxious face the moment he walked in the door. She stood as if expecting him to need something right away.
    “Mr. Williams is waiting in your office,” she told him.
    Hutch glanced at his watch. It was past one and he’d skipped breakfast and was feeling light-headed. Hardly surprising, considering all the blood Dave had taken earlier. “Can you order me lunch?”
    “Teriyaki chicken?” Gail asked.
    It was one of his favorites. High sodium, though. “Could you get me a salad with a side of cottage cheese?”
    She raised her eyebrows. “I thought you didn’t like cottage cheese.”
    “I don’t, but it’s supposed to be good for you. Doc said I need a more balanced diet.”
    “Okay, cottage cheese it is. Anything else?”
    Hutch nodded. “Find a gym close to my place and sign me up.”
    His assistant made a note on her pad.
    “And…” He hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I need a knitting class.”
    He watched, but Gail didn’t bat an eye.
    “See if you can find an evening class somewhere in the downtown Seattle area.” His condo was in a central location and he didn’t want to travel far for this craziness. Actually, he’d be astonished if Gail found such a class, which would be fine by him. He could tell Dave he’d tried and leave it at that.
    “I’ll look into it right away.”
    Dave reached inside his pocket for the prescription. “Would you please have this filled for me, too?”
    “Of course.”
    “Thanks, Gail, you’re the greatest.”
    She grinned. “Your father used to say the same thing.”
    She was a valuable asset to the company, and Hutch was grateful she’d stayed on through this lengthy transition period. He knew, however, that it wouldn’t be long before she retired. He hadn’t worked out what he’d do then. Thankfully, it wasn’t a question he needed to answer that minute.
    The remainder of his day was routine, with meetings stacked on meetings, and it was nearly seven o’clock when he left the office. Instead of driving to his condo, he stopped at his mother’s house in Bellevue. She’d tried to call him earlier in the afternoon but he’d been tied up in a meeting with the ad agency.
    Gloria Hutchinson’s face brightened the instant Hutch walked in the door. “I’m so glad you came by.”
    He made an effort to visit and update her on what was