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Pushing myself up in the bed, I called, "Co pain in es Willow ca into the roohtly Her tear-streaked cheeks stretched into a wide smile But as she surveyed ine my face was pretty messed up "Oh, Miss Alex, you have soa smile to my face, I nodded "I sure am Just a little battered and bruised, but I’ll be fine"

Her dark brows creased in worry, and I could see the wheels in her head were turning She ondering whether to believemy hand, Iwith you will rinned as she made a beeline to the bed "Careful," Beth warned when Willow scrambled onto the bed

"Want to watch sorin, she reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the re on the TV, she settled on an old Scooby-Doo episode

"Think you could eat so?" Beth asked When I shook ravy made They’d be soft on your stomach But if you want some soup, I can make you some of that"

Her insistence caused an esince I had beenI missed desperately At ood, honey"

With ht of ereerits or soup?"

"I can’t i I’d want more than your biscuits," I said

She smiled "Then biscuits it is Be back in a led to my side, I bent down to bestow a kiss on the top of her head Closing rance of her shampoo "Love you, Miss Alex," Willow murmured

Tears filled my eyes "I love you, too, sweetheart So very, veryup at me, Willow said, "Oh, don’t cry!"

"It’s okay They’re happy tears frooing to say I wish you weretohis throat in the doorway When I glanced up,form He held a tray filled with the food that Beth had insisted on"Hi," I said softly

"Hi," he replied His dark eyes then went to Willow "Go on out to the kitchen and have your lunch"

Her lips turned down in a pout "But I wanna stay with Miss Alex"

"Willow--"

"I just got to coue with me Go Now," he co off the bed, but it didn’t stop her fro across the room in a huff

When she er at hi him down to her level After he stooped a little, she said in a slightly hushed tone, "Miss Alex is hurt and sad, so you be nice to her"

His eyebrows shot up in surprise "What did you just say to me?"

"Don’t be mean like you usually are Be nice"

Deacon’s expression of utter disbelief brought a hter like she was some alien life-form The state of his shock took away any ability to chastise Willow for her words or tone When he finally gave a slight nod of agreement, she breezed on past him into the hallway

With a bewildered look on his face, he crossed the rooainst the pillows, as he eased down on the bed "You hungry?"

"Not really I just didn’t want to hurt Mas"