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"I'm fine," he said

"You can't be coht then come to bed," I said

He smiled "Okay"

He rose, got undressed and slipped in beside led in his arain, safe and content He kissed me softly on the lips and we both finally, fell asleep

I ith a jolt when my bedroom door was opened and the air just seemed to rush over me Austin was still asleep

"Well, this is a fine sight!" Mrs Bogart cried, She stood there with her hands on her hips "A fine sight"

Austin opened his eves and looked at me and then at her He dropped his head back to the pillow and groaned

"Close the door Mrs Bogart, and never, never coain," I told her

"You don't need to worry aboutthat" she threatened "I won't stand by and just watch this sinfulness and be talked to like that"

She slammed the door hard as she left

"Uh-oh," Austin said

"Don't worry My grand household help I'hed

Mrs Bogart didn't leave iave notice to Aunt Victoria, who used it as another excuse for one of her fiery lectures about the pitfalls of being involved with men I paid even less attention to her than before; when sheto be to find soart I told her not to worry about it I'd find someone myself

"That's absolutely ridiculous," she declared andunder her breath about how this was all happening at the wrong time She had too much to do and was too busy to babysit for a reckless invalid

During the next teeks Austin continued ht with me Every chance we had, we drove over to the hospital to visit Jake Sometimes he kneas there, sometimes he didn't On occasion he babbled what to other people sounded like nonsense, but toof all the secrets that made up the cocoon that had enveloped him at the end of his life