Page 199 of Halo

“Neither am I.”

He bends down and kisses me, and for a few seconds I let myself enjoy the warmth of his mouth and the familiar weight of his hand against my cheek before the nausea rolling through my stomach reminds me that last night’s burst of energy apparently came with an expiration date.

When he pulls away, I sigh.

“I really don’t feel good this morning.”

His teasing disappears immediately. “Then you’re staying right here.”

“But the horses.”

“Will continue being horses without you.”

“I wanted to go with y’all.”

“I know.” He sits beside me and pulls the sheet back over my shoulder where it slipped. “We can go tonight if you feel better, or tomorrow morning. Nobody’s taking them anywhere.”

“Are you sure?”

“Leah.” He kisses my forehead. “Stay in bed. Sleep. Throw up. Watch terrible television. Whatever your body needs today.”

I reach for his hand.

“I hate missing things.”

“I know, darlin’.”

He threads his fingers through mine.

“But you’re not missing us. We’re coming back.”

I sleep through most of the morning and wake sometime after noon to the sound of voices downstairs. For a few seconds, I don’t know where I am, and then the smell of the ranch house and the unfamiliar ceiling above me bring everything back.

A soft knock comes at the door before Nick’s sister, Bonnie, peeks inside.

“Thought you might be awake.”

She comes in carrying a tray with a bowl of soup, crackers, and a glass of water, and right behind her is Grady.

“Mrs. Harrison!”

He climbs onto the bed beside me while Bonnie sets the tray across my lap.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I tell her.

“I know.” She smiles. “Eat what you can.”

Grady is practically vibrating beside me.

“We went to the corner store.”

“You did?” I pick up my spoon. “What exactly does one buy at a corner store?”

“Candy.”

“Of course.”

He reaches into the little plastic sack he brought with him and proudly produces a package of peach rings.