Chapter 14

 

 

"Here," she said, holding out her hand. "Take it."

She watched him react like a twelve-year-old boy and withdraw. Mairie stuck out her hand further.

"What is it?"

She couldn't help it any longer. She started laughing. It was a terrible habit she had when confronted with a semi-serious situation. She had the irresistible urge to giggle. "Oh, come on," she managed to say, trying so hard to be serious. "It's only Alka Seltzer … a bromide thing."

"Thing?" He held his stomach and took a step back. "Until you have a better explanation, I'm not putting them down my throat!"

Geez, he looked so cute in those jeans and white T-shirt, she thought, while biting the inside of her cheek to distract her. She must remember he had eaten the entire sundae in one sitting and was in some discomfort. It was funny, because he'd refused to listen to her advice and she had warned him five times this might happen. She bit down harder, as she needed her wits now to explain this.

"It's like… like a bromide. Seltzer. Didn't you ever take anything for an upset stomach?"

"Yeah… I threw up."

That did it. She couldn't hold it any longer. Bursting out laughing again, she covered her mouth and shook her head, trying to stop it. "Okay, okay…" she finally said and then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. Really sorry. I'm not laughing at you. Exactly."

"Don't you dare say I told you so again."

He was looking less and less like a funny kid and more like himself. She saw his mouth twitch, just a tiny bit. Even he seemed to be amused.

"All right," she said, with as much compassion as she could gather. "Well, you may very well have that… that previous option if you don't take this. It will help. It's like medicine."

"It's like medicine?" His words held more of a hint of laughter. "Either it is, or it isn't."

She closed her eyes and tried not to giggle. "It is medicine." Opening her lids, she captured his vision with her own. Her voice became more thoughtful. "Why don't you trust me?"

He immediately stopped rubbing his stomach and stared back at her. "I do trust you," he said in a serious voice.

"Then take the pills," she answered with a smile of affection. "Drop them in water and drink it down."

He held out his hand to her.

In that moment, Mairie felt her fondness for him, not the intense yearning for his touch or his attention, but the genuine affection she held for Jack Delaney. He was real… he was faithful to his own set of beliefs. He had honor. He could be trusted. Plus he was funny, compassionate, and handsome. She liked him, and that shocked her because she liked him as well as she had liked her best female friends.

Maybe a little more.

Where had all her bitterness against males gone?

She picked up the glass of water and said, "Okay, partner. Drop 'em in and watch 'em fizz."

He dropped the big white tablets into the water and watched.

She chuckled as she saw his expression change. "You have to wait till it stops before you drink it."

Relief spread over his face. "Oh, it stops? I thought the damn thing was alive! It's busier than that Jacuzzi thing in the convenience… just look at it!"

"I am. I know what it is." Nodding to the glass, she added, "See, it's slowing down now."

He looked skeptically at the glass. "This is some future kind of aid for a queasy stomach?"

"Yes, that's it exactly," she reassured him. "Now drink it."

He brought the glass to his lips and hesitated a few seconds before taking a deep breath. "I trust you," he repeated, not precisely with the same confidence of earlier.

She watched him gulp the liquid and whispered, "All of it."

He was gasping when he finished.

"There you go. Soon you'll feel much better." She took the glass and placed it back on the night table between the beds. Pulling the bedspread down enough to expose the pillows, she fluffed and placed two of them against the headboard. "Now, lie down. Or sit up a little, if it's more comfortable."

"Why do I have to get off my feet? What is this going to do to me?" He was looking worried and Mairie held his shoulders and gently pressed him down on the edge of the mattress.

"It's not going to do anything, except make you burp."

"Oh, wonderful. I'm stuck in a room with a beautiful woman and I'm going to be belching all night?" He started laughing. "How I wish the Cornells could witness this night. After all that tutoring to be such a gentleman." He rubbed his stomach and grinned. "I am sure continual belching would be frowned upon."

Mairie chuckled. "Yeah, well under ordinary circumstances I'd agree with the Cornells. Witnessing a belching marathon is not my idea of a swell evening, but this isn't an ordinary circumstance, sir. This is your first ice cream sundae."

"And what memories," Jack muttered, trying not to laugh.

"Ahh, you loved it, Jack. Admit it. This is only because you ate the entire thing. I told you—"

"Don't! Do not remind me again." He held his stomach and curled onto the bed away from her.

She heard a long burp and laughed. "See?"

He groaned. "I see that I'm making a pathetic impression."

She stopped laughing and smiled. "Hey, Delaney? You made your impression a long time ago. In 1877. Don't worry about it, okay? Let's watch some TV. Maybe it'll get your mind off it. By the way, thank you for saying I'm beautiful."

"You are. Surely you know that."

"It's been awhile, but I appreciate the compliment. Now, for the TV…" She felt ridiculously pleased that Jack thought she was beautiful, and stifled a wide grin.

"No food stories, okay?"

Picking up the remote, Mairie nodded. "Okay, but they aren't really food stories. They're commercials for food, or cooking shows. I guess technically a cooking show could be a food story, but I told you, it's all to get you to buy something. You don't even have to look. You can change the channel any time."

"Do you have one of these devices in your home?" He was sitting up against the pillows as if he felt a little better.

"I have one, though it's in storage right now. I left everything when my brother got sick." Scanning through the channels, she selected a nature show for the middle of the afternoon. Seemed safe. He certainly wasn't ready for a soap opera or Jerry Springer yet.

"Now I am impressed. Imagine to own one of these. One would never be lonely or bored."

"Don't be impressed," she answered, and fell onto her bed. She propped her pillows behind her and sat Indian style. "Almost everyone has one, in every country. It's kind of like that telephone, a communication device. You can see and hear what's happening in say England right now… almost anywhere, by the news. I'll show you later. Hey, look…"

Except for Jack's occasional burps, they sat in silence for the next twenty minutes, watching the life cycle of the salmon. Finally Jack said, "Will you tell me about your brother, Mairie? Will I meet him?"

She turned her head and saw that he wasn't interested in the program either. "I can see if there's anything else on that you might like."

Shaking his head, he smiled. "I'd really rather talk, if you don't mind. I would like to hear about this person you risked everything to help. He must be quite a man."

"He is," she answered, and smiled as a mental picture of Bryan filled her mind. "He's one of the best people I've ever known, the kind you want to be your friend. He's honorable. Loving. Strong. Humorous. Adventurous." Embarrassed, she added, "I guess you can tell I love him."

"I can." He burped and excused himself.

Mairie grinned. "And he's another man who can burp in front of me and I don't seem to mind. I think you might like him."

"Then I will get to meet him?"

"Yes. We're flying back to Philly as soon as Marc sends us new identification so we can travel."

"But we're traveling within the United States. Why would we need identification papers? If we're stopped?"

She sighed, not knowing if she could make him understand what had taken place in the last hundred years. "You can't travel on an airplane without proper identification because of… it's for our safety, Jack."

He sat up straighter. "Wait. We're traveling on one of those air-planes?"

"Ahh, yeah. Did I forget to mention that?" It was like telling a child that he had to get a tooth pulled.

He shook his head and waved his hand in dismissal. "I don't think so, Mairie. I got in those vehicles to get us here and to the arcade of shops, but this is out of the question. Surely, there are trains, horses even."

She tried not to lose patience. "Jack, we can leave Las Vegas and be in Philadelphia in less than five hours. How long would a horse take?"

Looking shocked, he said, "You must not be serious. You can't get to Philadelphia from here in five hours. Try five months. Hell, it took me years to get back here to the desert."

"I would imagine you stopped along the way." Okay, so some sarcasm was creeping into the conversation. Being the teacher wasn't easy. How was she supposed to explain everything he found curious or different? She couldn't. Soon, he would need a more advanced teacher, someone who could answer his technical questions. Someone who understood the logical, mechanical, left brain. Like Marc.

Sure. How was she supposed to explain Marc to him?

"Yes, I stopped. I stopped and worked. I didn't have any plan, except to find my brothers, but still … Mairie, to travel across this country in five hours is… is unbelievable."

"Well, believe it, Jack. In a couple of days you're getting on a plane with me and you'll see for yourself."

"We need to discuss this. Explain how these airplanes stay in the sky."

"I can't!" she said with frustration. "Look, even though I sold computers, I never went on a sales call without a tech… a technical representative, with me. He did the intricate, scientific presentation. The mechanical stuff that explains how it all works. Not me. I don't know how a plane stays in the air, Jack. I've told you all I know. It's about thrust and how the wind hits the wings. There are engines, like in a train, only really powerful."

Jack could see that she was getting upset. Wanting to end the subject, he said, "So again, I'll have to trust you."

He was pleased to see her smile.

"Are the pills working?"

He sat for a moment and realized he did feel better. "I think they are."

"Oh, goody," she said, and ran her hands down her thighs. "So tonight we can go to the cabaret show? I know how much you want to see it."

He didn't miss the teasing note to her words. "I don't feel that good. We can see it tomorrow."

"Whatever you want. So what would you like to know now?" She grinned. "Sorry if I got a little carried away there with the plane thing. I know all this is frustrating and scary. I just wish I could explain everything better."

Jack smiled. "You're a good teacher, Mairie. I can't imagine how I would explain the train engine to my Paiute brothers. Now you never finished telling me about Bryan. You said yesterday that Marc is your brother's partner. What business are they in together?"

She just stared at him for a prolonged moment, and then burst into laughter. "Oh, Jack. Love. Their business together is based in love."

Now he stared at her. "Marc is a male, correct?"

"Correct." She sighed. "Look, I know this may seem odd to you, maybe even shocking, considering the time you just left… but my brother and Marc are life partners. They live together."

"I'm not sure I understand this," he said, certain he didn't want to head into this discussion with a lady. "I suppose I'll understand better when I meet them. Now, tell me of your family. Are they there in Philadelphia?"

"Everyone's gone now. It's just me and Bryan."

"No wonder you are so close to him. And what about your divorced husband? Does he live there also?"

"I don't know and don't really care. The last I heard he was in Philadelphia and was planning to remarry."

He watched as her expression became pensive. She pulled her knees up to her chin and turned her face to the wall. He paused, allowing her a moment of reflection. She suddenly inhaled deeply and turned back to him with a smile.

"That was a long, long time ago, Jack. I don't think about him anymore. He came into my life for a period of time, and it… it just wasn't meant to be forever. We drifted apart. He was engrossed with work and I was busy with mine. We didn't spend enough time together… I guess our interests grew in other directions. I believe everything happens for a reason, even if you can't see it at the time. Alan and I served each other for a time, but it just wasn't forever—"

"You don't have to say any more, Mairie. I'm sorry if I pried."

"Actually, Jack, I don't mind at all. The truth is, one day my ex-husband admitted to me he was having an affair and he asked me for a divorce."

"Oh Mairie, it must have hurt you deeply to hear that." He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her the man had been a fool.

"Well, at first, it hit me from out of left field. I mean, I had no idea. Things weren't perfect, I knew that. We were so busy with trying to make ends meet, but I thought we were working on a life together. I guess we were working on a life apart. At least that's how it went."

Her pause gave him a thoughtful moment. He looked down to the floor, avoiding her stare, and rubbed his hands together. "It's a shame to see the future has produced men who no longer believe that a man's word is his honor."

She inhaled and looked to the ceiling. "Come on, Jack. Men have been unfaithful since… Adam. It wasn't the fact my husband cheated on me that hurt so much. It was the betrayal of my best friend, or who I believed was my best friend. I once thought all men were like that, without honor in their words. But I don't think that anymore. Surprisingly, I find myself not bitter toward Alan. He served a purpose for me. He was part of a lesson in life I had to learn. There is still decency in this world, Jack. It may be harder to find, but it exists." She added with another smile, "At least, I hope it does."

In the silence after her words he thought of how similar they were. Mairie had been through her war, and he his. Both had emerged scarred but intact. She had walked away from her battle and didn't appear to harbor bitterness. She still believed. She still had hope. He looked up at her with a great tenderness in his eyes.

"By virtue of her emotions. Balzac was certainly correct. Mairie Callahan, once again I am drawn to say, you are an incredible woman and are deserving of admiration."

"Well, this is a recent revelation to me, this… this healing." She was looking at him with such warmth. "But I do thank you, kind sir."

Their gazes locked. He felt a pull in his chest so deeply he was sure his body rocked toward her with the ache. She remained still, her arms wrapped around her legs, her head resting on her knees. He couldn't be sure if her eyes said more.

"Did the Alka Seltzer work?"

"Quite well. I'm actually feeling much better."

"Good." She sat up quickly, slapping her knees with both hands. "We need to get busy and do something. This is Las Vegas! We should be out on the town. Here—" She tossed his sweater to him.

He jerked with the interruption and tore his eyes away.

"Perhaps you're right. It might be best to get out of this hotel room and get some air… and a drink." He was most relieved she had ended the intensity of that moment. He slapped his legs in agreement and rose from his bed.

"I've got an invitation to a burleyque, madam. I would be honored if you would accompany me." In a theatrical gesture, he put his arm out for her.

"I would be delighted to attend with you, Jack Delaney." She looked up at him, smiled grandly, and touched his arm. "But first, I must don my disguise. Let me get my wig. We're traveling incognito."

It was so strange to see her with blond hair. It was a complete transformation. He preferred her long, straight black hair falling over her shoulders.

"Mairie, your appearance has altered so much with that light hair. If it were not for your dazzling blue eyes, I might not recognize you tonight." With a grin he added, "Your carriage awaits, dear lady." He again offered his arm and she took it.

Quietly he shut the door behind them. 

 

Mairie loved walking next to him, her hand resting on his strong arm. She felt happy, secure, and protected, and thought about what she'd said to him minutes ago in the room. The bitterness really was gone. Six years she had carried it like a stone around her heart. She actually felt… lighter, she thought as the elevator doors opened.

"Jack, wait a second. Let me help you." In the elevator Mairie stood before him and raised her arms to the back of his head. "Your hair. It's got static from pulling on your sweater."

"Oh, what's that?"

He leaned slightly toward her with an ease which surprised her. It was as though they had been married for years. Yet she knew she went flush when she saw him caressing every detail of her face with his eyes. That same flush was creeping down her body, inflaming her senses. She wondered if he was searching for the familiarity under the blond wig and if he could pick up on her desire.

"There. That's better." She slid her fingers down the length of his hair and patted his chest to confirm he was now presentable. Her hands lingered briefly and she had to use every ounce of willpower not to caress him.

She watched him stand erect, never taking his eyes from hers and she was sure he trembled. An ache grew so intense within her when the beating of his heart pounded against her palms that Mairie almost moaned.

A synthesized tone announced their stop.

Saved by the bell, she thought. With a deep breath she declared, "I could really use that drink now." Mairie turned out into the lobby. She felt his hand reach out and stroke the length of her arm as she stepped forward. She sensed for an instant his hesitation in holding her hand, then he followed behind her.

This is definitely going to be some evening, Mairie Callahan, she thought to herself.

They wound up at the cabaret show in the hotel. She thought of Bryan, in Philadelphia, out of remission, and felt a pang of guilt. After speaking with Marc, she decided not to chance going back to the cave. If the Feds were looking for her, they would be watching that area. And nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to prevent her reunion with Bryan. She knew there was nothing she could do until Marc sent the new IDs, yet a sadness took hold of her. How she missed her brother. Soon… soon she would hold him in her arms and explain everything.

Mairie immediately ordered a Long Island iced tea and told the scantily clad waitress to keep them coming. She couldn't help but sense the young woman's flirtation toward Jack as he asked for a beer and a shot of whiskey. Mairie didn't blame her, for Jack Delaney was an attention grabber. He'd had hers ever since she'd laid eyes on him. Suddenly, instead of feeling insecure, Mairie felt a rush of pleasure that Jack Delaney was her date. She could say that. It was an almost-kind-of-a-date… she was with him, a man from a hundred years ago, a remarkable man, a charming gentleman. She actually loved his old-world gestures. They were genuine.

This night might be torture, to be this close to him, to feel everything that was coursing through her mind and her body, and to hold back.

Her seven months of celibacy suddenly felt like seven years.

After her second drink, she actually relaxed and grinned at Jack's stunned expression when the floor show started. The women were all tall and beautiful and wore stunning bejeweled costumes of elaborate feather designs. She sat and wondered how they managed to walk in the heavy contraptions. But she had to admit they were lovely and she hoped they got paid a lot of money to prance around in those high heels. Their feet must kill them. Then the magician came out and did a decent imitation of Siegfried and Roy's tiger act. Jack was amazed and Mairie giggled. Okay, she was on her second drink, but his astonishment was so precious, and she was … damn, was she getting drunk?

Trying not to laugh, she straightened her wig and took a deep breath. She had to keep up with Jack and not make a fool of herself, but the wig did make her scalp itch and she wanted to tear it off her head. She must look like some retro Farrah Fawcett wannabe, but it wasn't all that expensive and she couldn't see spending hundreds of dollars on a better one. Still, it seemed a shame that she had nice clothes somewhere, clothes like the other women in the audience were wearing, and her hair when styled was decent, and makeup… when the hell was the last time she'd worn makeup?

"Mairie?"

Stunned out of her pity party, Mairie jumped and looked at Jack. He was smiling at her.

"Don't you think we should eat something?"

She stuck her index finger under the flap of wig by her ear and scratched. "You think you can eat now?" she asked over the applause, as the crowd showed their appreciation for the magicians.

"I think you should. I'm not very hungry, but you haven't had anything today since your ice cream cone." He reached over and tenderly tugged the corner of her wig back into place around her face. "Something light?"

She nodded, wishing he would touch her again. His fingers had brushed her cheek with such thoughtful familiarity that she almost moaned. "Right, I'll get us a menu."

"I was looking at this." Jack stated, pulling a small plastic card from behind the centerpiece.

"Okay, lemme see," she said, to hide the fact that she was distracted by matters that seemed much more important than food. She forced her eyes to focus on the printed words and blinked a few times when she looked up at him. "They only serve appetizers during the show. No dinners. Shall I order for us?"

"Please," he answered with a lazy smile. He really seemed to be enjoying himself.

She stared at his mouth for the longest time. In fact, she probably would have continued if Jack didn't suddenly raise his hand slightly to flag the waitress. Naturally, the woman came immediately and couldn't have been more helpful in suggesting which appetizers were the house specialty.

Mairie sat glumly while watching the interaction. Maybe Jack was right, maybe she needed food. Two drinks on an empty stomach must be the reason she was feeling this defensiveness, as if Jack Delaney belonged to her. How immature. She wasn't a young girl. She was a woman.

Right… a woman with two Long Island iced teas in her, forced to sit next to a gorgeous man whom she was in love with and must not show how she felt. She wanted another drink, as more beautiful women in costumes followed the magical act to do another number.

Jack was mesmerized. Hey, she couldn't blame him.

Their food came quickly and Mairie studied the array of appetizers. Fried mozzarella sticks. Buffalo wings. Fried shrimp. Cris-cut fries. Fried zucchini and onion rings. Ranch sauce, marinara sauce, cocktail sauce. The jalapeño sauce was for the buffalo wings.

"It smells wonderful." Jack inhaled the aroma of the food.

"Everything is fried," she said, and wondered if her voice sounded like a whine.

"Is something wrong?" His expression showed concern.

She wanted to say that yes… something was wrong. She was getting tipsy. She was miserable in her wig. She couldn't possibly compete with the showgirls or even the waitress for his attention and wanted to take him back to the room, where he was all hers.

Talk about childish.

Concentrate on the food, she told herself, and picked up a mozzarella stick. She pointed to each food with her other hand, identifying them with the corresponding sauce. Dipping the cheese stick and swirling, she raised it to her lips. "They're best with the ranch sauce, Jack. Try it. It's… finger food."

She closed her eyes as she bit down and savored the taste. Melted cheese dangled between her lips.

"Interesting," he said, squinting at her.

Now I've got his attention, she thought triumphantly. That, or I'm really making a fool out of myself. At that moment the oh-so-cute waitress brought them each another round of drinks.

Perfect, she thought, and picked up her glass.

"And these, Mairie?" he asked, holding up a buffalo wing. "This is a bird of some sort. I've had buffalo, and this isn't it."

She laughed and took another sip of her drink. "One of the many paradoxes in life, Jack. Buffalos don't have wings, yet you're holding one. Actually, it happens to be named after the city of Buffalo in New York."

"Why Buffalo?"

"I don't know," she answered truthfully.

"Ahh…" he said, and dipped it into the jalapeño sauce.

Before she could warn him, he bit into it.

"Wait, that's hot," she said, and marveled as he calmly chewed. "You don't think that's hot, spicy?"

He grinned and swallowed. "Mairie, I like hot. Remember, Mexico isn't far from here. I'm used to hot foods. And it's a hell of a lot better than prairie dog."

She picked up her glass. "I'll drink to that."

 

Holding him by the arm, she rested her head against his shoulder and squeezed. "This has sefintely been dome evening, Dack Jelaney. I mean, Jack Delaney." She corrected herself and then giggled at her own spoonerism as she fumbled with the electronic lock.

Smirking at her inebriated state, Jack carefully took the key from her and successfully opened the door. "You're as giddy as a schoolgirl, Mairie Callahan."

"Thank you, my good man." She threw the purse into a chair and flopped down on her bed. She sat for a moment and evaluated her condition. "I think I'm going to be sick," she stated matter-of-factly. Falling back onto the bed, her arms flung above her head she continued, "I never should have eaten that fried food on top of the alcohol."

"Would you like one of your Alka Seltzer? I can speak from experience, it tastes like hell, but works wonders." He grinned foolishly.

She burst out laughing. "Best commercial I ever heard."

"Then I shall prepare some for you, madam, and return henceforth."

This is absolute insanity, she thought, as she pulled the wig from her head and tossed it across the room. I can't believe I'm living this. This man is incredible. Back in time, forward in time, and having the time of my life. The room started to spin and Mairie struggled to keep herself coherent.

"Mairie, are you awake?"

She slowly opened her eyes to see Jack with a fizzing glass in his hand.

"God, you are beautiful," she mumbled inaudibly.

"I'm sorry, Mairie, I didn't hear you."

"Nothing." She struggled to sit up.

"Let me help you, Mar."

She felt the care in his embrace as he put his arm around her shoulders and placed the glass to her lips. She swallowed a gulp.

"Egads. You're right. It does taste like hell." She crinkled her nose. "And the bubbles tickle."

"Just finish it. If I did, you can. It's a miracle medicine. You'll feel better in a little while."

She closed her eyes as he tipped the glass for her to finish the last swallow. She felt so cared for in his strong arm. She was entirely safe. There was no assuming here. She knew Jack Delaney's intentions were honorable. He was a rare man, indeed.

Hearing him place the glass onto the night table she felt him turn back. What a state of bliss… presently, chemically induced… nevertheless, bliss, she thought. She couldn't force her eyes to open. How she wanted this moment to last. But what a sight you must be, Mairie Callahan, she chided herself.

She felt his finger touch her bottom lip when he brushed away a drop.

"I'm glad to see you haven't lost the rest of your head." He said, noticing her wig on the floor.

She lazily opened her reddened eyes and looked across the carpet. They both burst out laughing and a huge belch left Mairie's mouth.

"Ooops!" she said coyly, covering her lips. "Did that come out of me?"

"Indeed it did, madam. Now, don't you feel better?" He smiled at her reassuringly.

"Excuse me, Jack. I'm sorry… really, really sorry. My behavior tonight has been appalling. Now I think I will be sick." She pushed back on his arm to lie down on the bed in embarrassment. She knew she would hate herself even more when the hangover woke her in the morning. But that was time-traveling. Stay in the moment, she reminded herself.

Heck, it had worked before.

"Jack, will you do me one more favor?" She stretched herself up to the pillows and turned to see him standing beside her bed.

"Anything, Mairie. What do you need?"

He stood, looming above her, having already removed his sweater, and was now unbuttoning his shirt. Oh, not that, she fought her own thoughts, and quickly rolled over.

She paused and spoke softly. "Jack, would you just… just hold me tonight?" It sounded so female, but it was what she wanted in this moment, to be held.

 

He froze in mid-button and looked down at her. She truly was a temptation. He wouldn't be a man if he didn't notice her long black hair fanned against the pillow; the expression on her face, her smooth skin that was turning tan. She had the look of absolute serenity about her. She is a goddess, he thought, then reminded himself he respected her completely.

Jack lay on the edge of the bed next to her. Mairie didn't move. He slowly eased onto his side and fit his body against her. He felt how well his framed hers. Gently, he placed his arm across the pillow above her head. Mairie lifted her head and softly rested against his arm. The perfume in her hair filled his senses. Gritting his teeth, he drew a deep breath and slowly exhaled. A quiet moan escaped. As though it were the most natural thing in the world, Mairie reached behind her hip, took his hand in hers, and pressed his arm around her waist.

"Thank you, Jack Delaney," she sighed sleepily. "Good night."

"Good night, Mairie Callahan, and thank you." He closed his eyes.

He waited a few seconds and then whispered, "You are an incredible gift."

His last words went unheard through her slumber.