“We’ll put it on the Volvo,” Hudson said, picking it up. “Ten bucks says he doesn’t notice it for at least a month.”

Caddie held out her hand. “Make it twenty,” she said. “And I say two months.”

CHAPTER 46

CHAPTER 46

Ben pulled the sweatshirt over his head, only too happy to get rid of the gown, which was scratchy and, after nine hours in the chamber, something he hoped never to see again in his lifetime. Dressed in his own jeans, which Caddie and Hudson had brought back to the station with them, he felt almost human. He was stiff from being confined for so long, but the fact that he was walking out of the fire station more than made up for it.

“Promise me you’ll go to the hospital tomorrow, Doc.”

Ben grunted.

“I’m serious,” Adam said. “You’re through the worst of this, but you know as well as I do that there can be damage we don’t see.”

“He’ll go,” Caddie assured the fireman.

“The Cannery Row Sardine Packing Team?” Ben said, finally noticing the front of his shirt. “Is there really such a thing?”

“He’s back to himself, all right,” Leo remarked.

Ben shook Leo’s hand, then Adam’s. “It seems inadequate to say thank you,” he said. “But thank you.”

“Caddie did the hard part,” Leo said. “We just carried the ball over the line.”

Ben put his arm around Caddie and pulled her close. “My hero,” he said, kissing her on the forehead.

It was nearly two o’clock. The streets were silent as Ben, Hudson, and Caddie walked to Hudson’s car. The moon, haloed in silver, turned everything it touched white. Ben looked up at it as he waited for Hudson to unlock the doors. “Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?” he asked.

Hudson looked at Caddie as he opened the doors. “Next he’s going to tell us about the white light and the angels,” he joked.

Ben got into the car, sliding the seat belt into its lock. “Go ahead,” he told Hudson and Caddie, “make fun. But see if I tell you what heaven looks like.”

“If I have anything to say about it, it looks like the inside of Justin Timberlake’s bedroom,” Caddie said.

“Amen,” Hudson agreed, starting the car. “You must be exhausted,” he said as he pulled away.

“Me?” Ben said. “Just the opposite. There was so much oxygen in that chamber, I feel like I’ve slept for a week. What I really am is hungry. Too bad everything’s closed.”

“I can make you something,” said Caddie from the backseat.

Ben turned to look at her. “Really?” he asked.

“Why does everybody think I’m useless?” Caddie said. “For your information, I do know how to cook. God.”