“I can rest at the house,” Decker said. “Between Mom and Rina, I don’t think I’ll lift a finger.”

“Especially after Mom sees your condition,” Randy said. “She ain’t no dummy, you know. She’s really worried. That’s why she called me.”

“Tell her I’m fine.”

“You ain’t fine, you need rest. And I ain’t helping any by keeping you up. But I had to see you for myself, you know.” He stared at his brother, then sighed.

Decker said, “I look like shit, huh?”

“Sergeant Bro, you’re alive and that looks beautiful to me.”

Rina came into the hospital room, closed the door, and took a seat by his bedside. “How are you feeling?”

Decker smiled. She was wearing a soft pink sweater and a gray wool skirt. Her hair was pinned into a chignon, the knot covered by pink netting. Her eyes were pool-water clear, her cheeks held a soft blush, her lips had been glossed a deep rose. He held out his hand. She took it and kissed his fingers one by one.

“Feels good,” Decker said. “Where are the boys?”

“They’re going to phone you later.” She brought his hand to her cheek and kissed it again. “You must have had a nice talk with Randy. You look better.”

“I was happy to see him.”

“I didn’t tell him, you know,” Rina said. “He just showed up at my in-laws’ house aware that something was wrong. He scared the daylights out of Eema Sora. She saw him through the peephole and wouldn’t answer the door. Luckily, I was there. She didn’t understand why, if Randy was a policeman, he was dressed so sloppily. Clearly, the subtleties of undercover police work have eluded her.”

Decker laughed, then winced.

“Since you weren’t at the house when Randy showed up,” Rina went on, “I had to tell him where you were and what really happened.”

“It’s okay, Rina,” Decker said. “I’m glad he came.” He hesitated a moment. “Really glad.”

“If you can’t count on family, who can you count on?” Rina said.

“True.”

“It’s always wonderful to have family to pull you through.”

Decker looked at her. Something was on her mind. He asked her what it was. Rina sighed.

“Mrs. Levine is downstairs. It was her idea. Now, she’ll go right home if you don’t want to see her, she was adamant that she wanted to respect your wishes. But if you have the strength to see her…”

“It’s okay,” Decker said.

“If this is too much for you to handle—”

“It isn’t. Send her in. It’s okay.”

And it was okay. After all, the woman had given him blood. And she had given him life. She wasn’t his real mother, but he did owe her something.