“Thank you.” That, at least, was a positive development.

The door to the examination room opened, and Abby appeared. I stepped toward her. “What did he say?”

“He said I lost the top of my ear.” She smiled. “It’ll be fine. I just need to keep it clean and dry for a few days after I wash this blood out of my hair.” She turned to Lauren. “I’m so sorry for putting you through all this trouble.”

“That’s quite all right, dear. That’s what family is for.”

We went to Lauren’s. Abby was free to move about DC as long as she returned to Lauren’s at night. Lauren would be returning to Texas for several days.

I carried our belongings upstairs to the guest bedrooms. Abby followed. I closed the door behind us as we entered her room. She surprised me when she turned, put her arms around me, and pulled me close. I could hear my heart pound in my ears.

“Creighton, are we going to be safe here?”

“I think so.” I didn’t sound too convincing, even to myself, but I stroked her hair, reassuring her.

She kept her head on my shoulder. “Three weeks. We may only have three weeks up here together.”

“I know.”

“Is that enough time?”

“I’m not sure.”

She pulled away slightly and looked at me. “Did you talk more with Lauren?”

I related to her most of what Lauren had said in the hallway.

“Do you think we can trust her?” Abby asked.

“I think we need to be careful. She may genuinely be trying to help us out—and herself as well. Or…”

“Or what?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I can’t read her. Sabin suggested that her judgment might not be the clearest right now.”

Abby hugged me again. “Let’s hope there is no or.”

We unpacked Abby’s suitcase. I stepped into the hallway as she changed into a pajama top and pants, then we walked to the hallway bathroom. At the sink I ran soapy hands through her hair as she kept her ear covered with gauze. Blood-tinged water trickled down the drain until her hair was clean. I dried it with a towel and silently combed it. I wished I could remain there for hours, drawing the comb through her straight black locks.

“All done,” I finally said. She turned and placed her arms around me again and squeezed. I held her for a long time.

“Thanks for being here for me,” she whispered.

She looked at me, rose up on her toes, and pressed her warm lips against mine. We leaned back into the counter, kissing as she slid herself onto the countertop. She locked her hands behind my neck as I caressed her. After several minutes she pulled back and looked into my eyes. She spoke softly. “Creighton, I…”

“What?” I whispered.