tempted | Page 6

and wiped my face. He smiled briefly at me, and then he moved to Jack`s side, putting his arm aroundhis boyfriendand patting his shoulder (and handing him a tissue, too). I heard Damien tell him, Come on, let`s go find the room the sisters have ready for us. You need to rest. Jack made a sniffling, hiccupping sob sound, nodded, and let Damien begin to leadhim from theroom. Wait, Jack, Stark called after them. Jack looked at the bed where Duchess still had her head pressed against Stark, who had his armwrapped around the Lab`s neck. You did good taking care of Duch when I couldn`t. It wasn`t any trouble. I`ve never had a dog before, so I didn`t know how really greatthey are. Jack`s voice broke only a little. He cleared his throat and went on. I`m--I`m gladyou`re not, uh, evil and awful and stuff like that anymore so she can be with you again. Yeah, about that. Stark paused, grimacing as the pain of his movements caughtup with him. I`m not exactly one hundred percent yet, and even when I am, I`m not sure whatmy schedule`sgoing to be. So I`m thinking that it would be a big favor to me if you and I couldmaybe shareDuchess. Really? Jack`s face lit up. Stark nodded wearily. Really. Could you and Damien take Duch back to yourroom, and maybebring her to see me again later?Absolutely! Jack said, and then he cleared his throat and continued. Yeah, like Isaid before. She hasn`t been any problem. Good, Stark said. He lifted Duchess`s muzzle in his hand and looked into theLab`s eyes. I`mokay now, pretty girl. You go with Jack so I can get all better. I knew it must have caused him agony, but Stark sat up then and bent to kissDuchess and let thedog lick his face. Good girl . . . That`s my pretty girl . . . He whispered, and kissedher again andsaid, Go on with Jack now! Go on! and he motioned to Jack. After one last lick of Stark`s face, and a single reluctant whimper, she turned fromthe bed andtrotted to Jack`s side, wagging her tail at him and nuzzling him in greeting while hewiped hiseyes with one hand and petted her with the other. I`ll take really good care of her and bring her back to see you as soon as the sunsets today. Okay?Stark managed a smile. Okay, thanks, Jack. Then he collapsed onto the pillows. He needs rest and quiet, Darius told all of us, and he continued to work overStark. Zoey, perhaps you can help me get your grandma to her room? She, too, needsrest and quiet. Ithas been a long night for all of us, said Sister Mary Angela. Shifting my worry from Stark to Grandma, I looked back and forth between the twopeople Icared so much about. Stark caught my gaze. Hey, take care of your grandma. I can feel that the sun willbe risingsoon. I`m going to go out like a light about then. Well . . . Okay. I went over to the side of his bed and stood there awkwardly. Whatwas Isupposed to do? Kiss him? Squeeze his hand? Give him a thumbs-up and a dorkysmile? I mean, he wasn`t my official boyfriend, but he and I had a bond that went beyond justfriends. Feelingconfused and worried and basically out of my comfort zone, I put my hand on hisshoulder andwhispered, Thank you for saving my life. His eyes met mine and the rest of the room faded away. I`m always going to keepyour heartsafe, even if mine has to stop beating for that to happen, he told me softly. I bent and kissed his forehead, murmuring, Let`s try not to let that happen, `kay?Okay, he whispered. I`ll see you when the sun sets again, I told Stark before finally hurrying over toGrandma. Sister Mary Angela and I eased her to her feet, almost carrying her out of Stark`sroom and downa short hall to another hospital-like room. Grandma felt tiny and fragile under mysupporting armand my stomach twisted anew with worry for her. Stop fretting, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya, she said as Sister Mary Angela propped pillowsaround her andhelped make her comfortable. I`m going to get your pain medication, Sister Mary Angela told Grandma. I`m alsogoing tobe sure the blinds in Stark`s room are closed and the drapes drawn tight, so youhave a fewminutes to chat, but when I come back I`ll insist you take your pain pill and sleep. You`re a hard taskmistress, Mary Angela, Grandma said. It takes one to know one, Sylvia, said the nun. And she hurried from the room. Grandma smiled at me and patted the bed next to her. Come sit close to me, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. I sat beside Grandma, tucking my legs up under me, trying