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Crying harder, she sobbed, “I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.”
With a steady gaze he stared at her blubbering face for many silent minutes, when at last he muttered, “Could you help me with the bandage?”
She nodded, still crying, as she removed the large square adhesive from its package. Cried even harder as she placed it over the wound and caused him to flinch.
Without warning, and entirely out of character, he suddenly took pity on her. Reaching up, he placed his hands around her waist and drew her into his embrace. The result made her tears increase. At this point, however, Laura was almost sure it had nothing to do with the wound.
“It's not that bad. It just hurts slightly.” He spoke above her head. “It could have been worse.”
She stayed there many minutes before her crying was under control and she was able to pull herself together. But even then, she didn't want to leave the warm and safe haven of his arms. A place she was hardly allowed to visit.
Gently, he began to pull her away. “Feeling better?”
She nodded.
“Good.” An uncustomary smile peeked out of the unwounded side of his mouth. “Look, if I ever need my house guarded, I know who to call.”
“That's not funny.” She punched him in the arm.
“Ouch! What are you trying to do, torture me until the bitter end?”
“That didn't hurt.”
“How do you know what makes me hurt?” He became cold once again, and unexpectedly serious. “God knows I deserve it.”
Laura looked up. “What?”
He paused, weighing what he would say next, then decided on, “I didn't say anything.”
Glancing around the room, he took in his surroundings. “If the hydro has gone out, I suggest you don't let the fire burn out. The electric baseboard heaters will be useless.”
“Oh, I didn't think of that.” She got to her feet. “I better go get some wood.”
His head snapped up. “Out there, in that? Are you crazy?”
“Well I have no replenishment. I'll have to.”
“No replenish—” Aghast, he turned his attention back to the now empty stack of wood near the fireplace. Getting to his feet, he muttered, “Of all the idiotic—”
“I said I'd get it.”
“I'll be damned if I'll leave my well-being in your incompetent hands.”
“Well I never asked you—” Her words dropped off as a thought occurred to her. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing. And where the devil have you been all this time?” He moved over to the door. Laura followed quietly behind him.
“Right here. Your mother was so nice as to—” She stopped speaking as well as walking. “Wait a minute. Why did you ask where I’ve been? Have you been looking for me? Did your mother tell you where to find me?”
“Hardly. She’s been very tight-lipped where you are concerned.” He gave her a displeased look before continuing. “I needed to get away. And what I believed to be solitude turns out to be already occupied. I'd leave except for one minor detail.”
“The storm,” she stated.
“Make that two minor details. The last gas station before here was closed. I thought I’d make it before I ran out, but my car stalled along the county road. I had to walk the rest of the distance to get here.”
“Oh.”
Silently she watched as he opened the door again and disappeared from sight. She felt a pang of guilt. With his injury, she really should have gone. Biting her lip, she waited anxiously for his return.
