Frank stretched out his arms, feeling both the muscular ache from lack of use as well as the heat coming from his joints. He shrugged. “I think I’m going to take it a bit slow. I’m still on the mend. In fact, right now, I think I’m in need of a nap.”

Buck gave him a toothy grin. “Well, boys and me all look forward to when you’re back out with us.” He patted at the radio on his belt. “Just holler if you need anything, okay?”

Frank waved at Buck and he began walking toward the house.

Jasper led the way home. Frank’s body was burning with a familiar ache that kept reminding him, Not all is well.

Frank gazed up at the sky and quietly prayed, “If I’m going to go, just end it quick. Don’t let the girls suffer because of me.”

###

Kathy sat at the dining room table, drinking a glass of water and watching her father. He was squatting on the living room floor, fixing the coffee table’s loose leg.

She held back a gasp when Dad lifted the table on its side without grimacing. Since she’d been home, he hadn’t even gotten out of his chair without obvious pain.

His color seemed less flushed than when she’d first come home. School started next week, and even though Dad refused to let her stay on his account, Kathy was now convinced that it wasn’t her imagination.

He was definitely showing signs of improvement.

“Katherine O’Reilly!” her mother snapped. “Why are you drinking out of your father’s glass?”

“What?” Kathy looked at her now-empty glass. “How is this Dad’s glass?”

Mom turned to Dad. “Frank, did you drink the glass I poured for you?”

Dad tightened a bolt on the table leg. “What glass?”

Mom rolled her eyes and huffed. “Damn it, Frank. I poured you that water to drink, and now Kathy’s drank whatever that stuff is.”

Kathy wrinkled her nose. “Sorry.”

Waving away her comment, Mom took the glass and walked to the kitchen as she grumbled something about distracted men.

Dad stood with only a slight wince, turned the coffee table back onto its legs, and put his weight on it. He nodded approvingly. “All better.”

Mom returned with a fresh glass of water and handed it to him. “Drink. Now,” she commanded.

Rolling his eyes, he downed the glass and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Ignoring that her father had lost weight, Kathy caught glimpses of the way he’d always been. He really did seem to be getting better, Kathy thought. Her only concern was the placebo effect. To her, that stuff tasted just like regular water. What if he was in the control group, and his improvements were just his mind believing in a cure?