Chapter 48

“How bad was it this time?”

“Not nearly as bad as yesterday evening.”

John said, “Let me get you cleaned up a bit. Do you need the drip hooked back up?”

“Actually, I don’t. Can you pull this thing out of my hand now?”

“It’s one of the things I’ll have to do before you can get out of here, so yes,” John said, and he walked around to the other side of the bed and gently removed the needle.

“Ouch.”

“I know, now brace yourself, because when I pull the tape off, it’s going to take some hair with it.”

“Do what you have to do.”

John jerked the tape, and Charles said “Ouch” again.

I touched his face. “You’re beginning to sound like a broken record.” Then I turned to John and said, “I was online looking at my bank account earlier, and I see that you cashed the check.”

“You bet. Joe and I decided to open a joint account. As soon as the new checks arrive, we’ll have a huge bill-paying session.”

“Did the hospital give you a hard time about leaving on such short notice?”