Inconstant Moon - Default Font Edition by Laurel L. Russwurm

missing half a lecture is hardly going to ruin his life. Maybe it's time he started taking control. Be the master of his own destiny. Adam smiles.
    He pulls out his laptop, he could at least do some work from here. While it cycles through the start up Adam waves around his Wi-Fi finder. Not a whiff. He's surprised. Sure, Canada may have terrible connection speeds and some of the worst price gouging in the world, but it's not the UK so there is usually some open Wi-Fi to be had.
    Except there does not seem to be any around here. This is the old part of town, and, well, really, this store still calls itself a record store. A thought. Maybe they sell records not CDs. He jumps out of the car and goes to peer in the window. He's relieved to see CDs in there. Still, it is old tech when you get down to it. Maybe they don't even know what Wi-Fi is.
    It doesn't look like that bad a neighbourhood.
    Just nothing looks very new, maybe that's it. Older businesses run by older people probably. He pulls into a parking spot right in front.
    Driving around will turn up something. Settling the computer in the passenger seat he pulls the seat belt around to secure it, then places the Wi-Fi finder on the dashboard. Snapping on his own seat belt he starts the car and drives more downtown, keeping an eye on the finder.
    The LED starts to pulse as he nears the library. Something to be said for coming to the library before it opens; good parking anyway.
    Adam's watch shows it is only eight thirty. Well. He can at least get some work done anyway while he's waiting.

chapter 29 . . .
    Maggie is sitting at the games table absently stirring her tea, ostensibly reading the paper when Oscar comes in with a steaming mug of coffee.
    “Morning, Miss Maggie.”
    “Hey Oz,” she murmurs without looking up.
    Oscar settles across from her, taking in the circles under her red rimmed eyes that aren't meeting his.
    “Maggie? Have I done something to offend?” he asks.
    Maggie looks up, surprised. “Offend? No of course not. Why would you think that?”
    “I don't know.” Oscar sighs. “You've been distant, and now you're unhappy to see me, so I'd thought perhaps your Stuart had an objection to our friendship, or some such thing.”
    Her eyes are brimming with unshed tears, “Oh Oz, no, nothing like that.  Actually, Stu suggested I talk to you.”
    Knowing he's on the wrong page, but it's not so bad as he feared, Oscar nods.   “I'll do whatever I can do to help, Maggs.”
    Maggie blows her nose a then takes a fortifying breath. “I thought I could carry it myself but, I just can't. Someone I've been getting close to, am pretty close to, well, this friend is really sick.”
    “Sick? How, exactly.”
    “Very sick. Very very sick.”
    “Oh my god not Katie,” blurts Oscar.
    She shakes her head, “No, no. Not Katie, Oz, it's Krystal.”
    “What's wrong with Krystal?”
    “She has a tumour.”
    “Oh, dear lord, I don't know what to say.” He reaches over to squeeze her hand. “This is why you've been so moody?” she nods, not speaking, struggling to get under control.
    “It's fine Maggie. Take your time.”
    Maggie says, “She was having headaches, and nausea too. But her family only moved here a couple of years ago so they don't have a family doctor. She had to go to a clinic for a referral, and it took a long time before they could get the tests scheduled, and, well, they took too long. The problem is a brain tumour, and it got too big.”
    “Too big?” asks Oscar, not quite getting it.
    “Too big to take out. What they call inoperable,”
    A gasp from behind grabs their attention. Maggie and Oscar turn to see Jake in the doorway, his face slack with shock.
    “Oh Maggie.”
    Oscar beckons Jake over. “You might as well join us lad. Come on and sit down.”
    Jake moves slowly across the room and pulls up a chair. He stares at Maggie, clearly stricken. “Maggie, that can't be right.”
    Maggie pushes the cup of tea she's been fiddling