Chapter 4: Saturdays

The rule was simple.

Dean could visit on Saturdays, from two to four, in Faye's living room.

Faye would sit in the next chair.

I had said it from my hospital bed.

He had agreed so fast that I knew he thought it would be easy.

Saturday came.

I sat on Faye's couch with my leg up on three pillows.

My wrist was in its blue cast, and a blanket lay over my knees that I did not need.

At two o'clock exactly, the doorbell rang.

Dean stood on the porch with a wicker basket in both hands.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi."

"I brought you things."

"Come in."

He set the basket on the coffee table and sat on the edge of the armchair.

Faye took the chair across from him and folded her arms.

I lifted the lid.

There was a paperback I had been meaning to read, a pair of fuzzy socks, and a tin of the lavender tea I liked.

At the bottom sat a loaf of lemon bread in wax paper.

A card was tucked under the string.

I opened it.

It said: Get well soon, Carrie. I'm so sorry about all of this.

Under that: I know you don't owe me anything, but I'm here if you need me. Brynn.

"She baked it herself," Dean said. "She wanted to do something."

Faye leaned forward, took the loaf out of my hands, and unwrapped one corner.

She broke off a piece and ate it.

"Well?" I said.

She chewed slowly, plainly hoping not to like it.

Keep reading free with an account. Start While I'm Unconscious, He's Still Saving His Mistress from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.