page61 (1/2)

“Sí, Se?or Grider, and I’uests,” she said

“We don’t want to be a bother,” Erateful they arm and safe

“You no bother,” Maria said, swatting a hand at the co till Tuesday, sí?”

Walt nodded

Erik looked at her “At least we’ll have hot water”

“And so more than cookies and chocolate for dinner”

“Yeah, but I liked having dessert first,” Erik said

ERIK STEPPED FROM the shower, drying the rivulets strealanced at hiotten way too thick He looked like a wild ht he’d spent with Emma, he felt like one

She’d asked for her own room and that told him all he needed to know

Maybe she’d just needed some space

But the way she’d looked at him, the way she’d shut doorried hi That’s how he felt about theed in each other at the cabin, but he hoped they could use their love more

Wrapping the plush towel around himself, he walked into the bedroom Folded neatly on the bed was a pair of jeans and Henley shirt A new package of boxers and a neatly folded pair of socks sat on the end of the bed, convincing him Walt likely had sons the sah toiletries toat his watch, he saas only ten o’clock in thethe bed, he wondered if he should napand then he wondered if he could talk E with him

His cell phone vibrated on the rough-hewn dresser

“Hey,out because you didn’t call”

“Well, I took a short cut that didn’t work out so well I hit a patch of ice, overcorrected and ended up plowing Emma’s car into a tree We didn’t have cell service and had to take shelter in an abandoned cabin overnight But we’re good All our toes and fingers are still intact” No need to mention exactly how they’d stayed warm