Chapter 23

“I’m not going anywhere. Go, get some rest. Or, if that won’t work, go sell some houses.”

“Okay.”

“Speaking of houses, what about mine?”

“The rental agent will have the door fixed today. Don’t worry about it.”

“Good, now go. Take a nap or something. That’s what I’m gonna do.”

He kissed me thoroughly and left the room. I lay there drifting in and out—it must have been mostly out, because the next thing I heard was the arrival of lunch. I played with my alleged food, and drifted off again. Sam came to see me around five, and Rion returned just as Sam was getting ready to leave. He walked straight to the bed, bent down, and kissed me.

“You’re looking better,” he said.

“Now that you mention it, so are you.”

“Yeah. A shower and shave, followed by a nap, will do it every time.”

He bent down and kissed me again.

“I’d tell you guys to get a room,” Sam said, “but you’re already in one.”

“Don’t make him laugh,” Rion said. “It hurts his insides when he does that.”