Rina’s eyes started to water. “You’re very nice to see her after what you went through.”

“What’s the diff?”

“She’s very nervous, Peter.”

Decker smiled. “I’ll be nice.”

Rina kissed his nose and started to rise, but Decker held her wrist. “Couple of things first.”

“Sure.” Rina sat back down. “Anything you want.”

Decker cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I cuffed you. It wasn’t one of my more well-thought-out plans.”

Rina smiled. “Lucky I had your keys.”

“I wondered why your purse was so heavy,” Decker said. “I thought it was the gun. You forgive me?”

“I forgive you. I know you had pure intentions. I’ll stay out of your business, but you must learn to trust me.”

“Agreed.”

“Anything else?” Rina said.

“Yeah.” Again, Decker cleared his throat. “Thanks for having the presence of mind to do what you did—”

“Peter, please—”

“No, let me get it out.” He looked down, clasped his shaking hands. “You acted like the consummate pro, Rina. What else can I say? I owe you big, kiddo.”

Rina took his face in her hands. How she loved him. May he never know what was really going through her head. One husband had already died in her arms, she wasn’t about to lose another. God had heard her pleas. God had been with them. She held back tears and said, “You want to even the score, do this for me. When we get home, promise me you’ll see somebody.”

“A shrink?”

“Not a shrink—a doctor,” Rina emphasized. “A psychiatrist or a psychologist trained to help people. Goodness, Peter, I’m going to see one just as soon as I get back. I have things I want to talk about. I need some help. So do you!”

“Want to go together?”

“No, Peter,” Rina scolded. “We need individual attention. We’re not talking about marital counseling, we’re talking about horrendous stresses that need to be dealt with and—”

“All right, all right!” Decker sat up, sending a bolt of pain through his chest. “I had a good talk with my brother. He told me to see a shrink. Not that Randy’s high on insight, but I think he saw one a couple of times and it helped him.” He adjusted the bed until he was semi-comfortable. “So to please you and my brother, I’ll see someone. Happy?”

Rina kissed him and said she was very happy.

30

Frieda Levine raised her fist, about to knock, then abruptly retracted it to her bosom.

She had it all worked out in her head. Akiva was not the sentimental type, so histrionics were out of the question. She would act civilized, conducting herself with respect, and most of all, she would listen if he talked. No matter how painful his words might be, if he talked, she would listen.