"You eat the soup, give me the bourbon and the gun." I lay on the couch feeling weak and puny.

Marvin put his hand to my head and looked at me with a worried expression. "Caliente," he said, shaking his hand. "You're very pale. Have you gone to the doctor?"

"Nope, I'm gonna ride it out." I shivered and pulled my robe tighter around my body. "My throat feels like it's on fire. Be a friend and hit me over the head with something. I wanna be unconscious."

"Shannon," Marvin said. No honey or baby. He was all business. "I can't leave you like this."

"Can I have some juice? It hurts to talk, and I think you're gonna make me argue," I said miserably.

1.

*Marvin poured me a gla.s.s of juice and pushed it into my hands. "I'll be back in a flash."

He took off before I could ask where he was going. I drank the juice and winced when it hit the back of my throat. I was lying on the sofa trying to remember the last time I took Tylenol and if the Valium I still had left would send me into orbit. Hailey appeared like a dream, except she was wearing a mask like Marvin's.

"We're going for a ride," Marvin said cheerfully. "What are you wearing under that robe?"

"Nothing and no." I shook my head and wanted to cry from the pain it caused.

Hailey pressed the back of her hand to my forehead. "Oh, yes, you are. Come with me." I was too weak to put up a fight and let her pull me up with a whimper. "We'll be back in a minute," she said to Marvin as she steered me to the bedroom.

Hailey sat me on the bed as she fished out clothes from my file cabinet-slash-dresser. She laid a pair of underwear and sweats on the bed next to me. "As much as I'd like to see you naked," she began with a smile, "I will do my best to preserve your dignity.

You turn your back to me and dress and I'll steady you."

The trip to the bedroom wore me out. I stood wearily and pulled on my underwear and pants. Hailey slipped my robe off my shoulders. The feel of her hands grazing my back added to my fever, and if I hadn't felt like someone dropped a blow torch down my throat, I might've swooned. She helped me into my shirt and called for Marvin.

"I'm going to need your help. She's swaying all over the place." I felt them hanging a coat over my shoulders and leading me to the door. They stood on either side of me in the elevator holding me up. I think I may've fallen asleep because the next thing I noticed was Marvin sitting in the backseat of Hailey's SUV as she pulled out of the garage.

"Hospital or doc in a box?" Hailey looked at Marvin in the rearview.

"There's an after-hours clinic two blocks down on the right."

Marvin looked at me. "She's looking kind of green. Let's try there first."

1.

*Marvin knew half of the people in the waiting room. He sauntered around in his mask like he was at a social while I leaned heavily against Hailey. She stroked my hair and back as we watched Marvin flirt with some guy who looked as bad as I did. When my name was called, Hailey went back with me. I was too sick to protest.

The first thing I did after they weighed me was throw up. My eyes teared partly from embarra.s.sment but more from the pain.

That was actually a good thing because someone came in minutes later and jabbed me in the throat with a swab. I had nothing left in my stomach, but I did gag like a cat with a hairball long after the nurse left the room. All the while Hailey petted and stroked, whispering words of comfort. Despite all the embarra.s.sment, I was glad she was there.

After my blood pressure and temperature had been taken, a doctor whisked into the room. He bent sideways and smiled at me cheerily. "I have good news and bad news," he said as he stuck something in one of my ears, then the other. "You don't have the flu, but you do have a nasty case of strep."

"Yippee," I said with as much enthusiasm as I could.

"Will you be taking care of her?" he asked Hailey.

"Yes," she said without hesitation.

I listened as he explained the antibiotics that I a.s.sured him I wasn't allergic to. My entire body stiffened as he explained next that they were going to give me a shot for the nausea. My eyes had to be the size of saucers as he patted my shoulder, wished me well, and walked out.

"What is it, honey?" Hailey looked down at me with concern.

"Did he say shot?"

Hailey smiled behind her mask. "It's either that or a suppository."

"Okay, shot."

1.

*The ride home went by in a blur. I was barely awake as they half dragged me back into my apartment. I had a vague recollection of Fuzzy circling my bed with a mask on her head before I slipped off into merciful oblivion.

1.

Chapter 25.

Breakfast and Hailey in bed.

My phone rang once before I heard Hailey answer it. She was close by and talking softly.

"I heard her cell phone ringing, but I didn't feel right answering it." Pause. "She's okay, but she has a bad case of strep."

Pause. "Yes, Marvin and I took her to the doctor last night. She's on antibiotics and is still sleeping off the nausea medicine." Long pause. "I took off from work. I'll be with her as long as she needs me." Another long pause. "I know she would do it for me. It's no problem, really." Pause. "I will, I promise."

"Kalen?" I opened one eye and looked at Hailey as she put the phone down.

"Sorry, I tried to get it before it woke you. I guess that's good in a way. It's time for you to eat and take your meds."

"You took off work," I croaked out.

"Don't worry about that." Hailey put her hand on my forehead.

She was still wearing the same clothes she had on the night before.

She looked worn out.

"Stayed here all night?"

"Uh-huh." Her tired eyes twinkled. "After you eat and take your meds, I'm going to borrow your shower if that's all right."

"Make yourself at home. Is that Grease I hear?"

Hailey smiled back at me as she walked toward the door.

"Yep, is it too loud? I can have Fuzzy turn it down."

I smiled weakly and shook my head.

Hailey returned five minutes later with b.u.t.tered toast, juice,

1.

*and a banana. "Have you eaten?" I asked as she set a tray over my lap.

She patted the tray. "Brought this from home. I like to eat breakfast in bed and watch TV on lazy mornings. And yes, I have eaten."

"Thank you." I nibbled on a piece of toast as she watched me.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you and Marvin have done for me."

"You should've called me." Hailey handed me the juice and waited for me to take a sip. "I had no idea you were so sick."

"Thought I could tough it out."

"Marvin bought you Popsicles and sherbet last night when he went to the pharmacy. Although, I wouldn't suggest trying that until we see if you can hold breakfast down."

I managed to eat the two pieces of toast and half the banana.

Hailey gave me the pills I was supposed to take and went off to take a shower. As soon as the bathroom door closed, I heard the ticking of nails on the floor beside my bed. Fuzzy looked up at me with a dog smile.

I patted the bed. "Wanna come up here and-" She was on the bed curled up next to me before I could finish the sentence. I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. Fuzzy yipped when I landed on the Home Shopping Network. "Surely you jest,"

I said in disgust.

She looked back at me as if to say, I jest not, leave it there.

"What about the Syfy channel?" She grimaced. "Animal Planet?"

We came to an uneasy truce with America's Funniest Videos.

When Hailey came into the bedroom a while later, she looked at Fuzzy and me. "Did you invite her up there?"

"I did, so don't fuss at her. She's very sensitive. They're doing a segment on funny cats. We haven't seen a dog yet."

Hailey felt my brow and frowned. "You're still a little warm.

How's your stomach feeling?"

"Better, but my throat feels like hamburger."

Hailey made a face. "How about a Popsicle?"

"Grape would be good." I felt like I was five, but I had to admit it was nice to be taken care of.

10.

*"You can sit on the bed with us," I said when Hailey returned with my Popsicle and a coffee for her.

"All right, but let me know if we keep you awake." She settled on the other side, propped a pillow against the headboard, and immediately started laughing at the show.

"I have pay-per-view. We could order a movie if you'd like."