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some more rest. Just take things easy. There’s still a little swelling. No driving until I say so. Keep the bandages dry, and the cast, only take a painkiller if you absolutely have to—you probably know the drill. I’ll need to see him Saturday morning.” This directed again at Elaine. “Make an appointment on the way out.” He turned back at the door, “I like happy endings—don’t disappoint me. Take care of yourself.” And with that he was gone.
    â€œLet’s get out of here.”
    â€œShoes an’ socks?”
    â€œTry the bottom drawer under the TV.”
    ***
    â€œWhere to? Are you hungry?” Elaine pulled the Flex out from under the hospital’s covered entrance to Emergency. Dan had refused a wheelchair ride from his room, much to the consternation of the floor nurse. And he didn’t need help climbing into the SUV’s front seat, even though Elaine saw the grimace before he settled back.
    â€œYeah. But I’m not thinking restaurant. Maybe back to the motel?”
    â€œAnd that wouldn’t be overexerting? I thought Dr. Zimmerman’s reference to ‘mountain climbing’ was just a euphemism for sex.”
    â€œCan’t let Stanley get ahead of me…figuratively speaking.”
    He grinned and Elaine couldn’t help thinking how terrific it was to have him back—innuendo and all. The grin was the same, a little lopsided, infectious, probably hadn’t changed any since fifth grade. The bandage gave him a rakish look—like he’d been in a really bad fight but had won. Come to think of it, that wasn’t too far from the truth, she decided.
    She grinned back. “Sounds like a plan.”
    She’d chosen a motel on Cerrillos Road—plain, not too expensive but it took pets. She carried the luggage inside while Dan turned on the shower. She looked the other way when Simon hopped onto the queen-sized bed closest to the window. There was a dog who understood creature comforts. She filled his water bowl and put it under the vanity’s counter. She wiggled out of jeans and pulled the shirt over her head, dropped the silk undies on top of the pile and headed toward the bathroom.
    â€œGlad to see you’re following doctor’s orders.”
    â€œHave to. Won’t get this thing off for awhile.” He held up his right hand with the cast already encased in a plastic bag sealed off with two rubber bands.
    â€œKind of a sexy outfit for the shower. But you’re missing a bow.” Elaine pointed.
    â€œAh, you’d just tell Carolyn. After you.” Dan held the shower door open.
    The shower felt good but it felt even better to just lean against Dan, her arms around his back, her head on his shoulder. He’d removed the bandage from his head and she could see the ten or so stitches at a diagonal above his right ear. But it was the bruising that made her pull back. Most of his right side was a dark blue-black beginning that attractive slide from puce to puke-green that denotes healing.
    â€œHurt?” She lightly touched a bluish-green welt on his shoulder.
    â€œLooks a lot worse than it really is. I took the brunt of it on my right side—went through the windshield at an angle and collided headfirst with something.”
    â€œYou were lucky.”
    â€œYeah.”
    He bent down and kissed her, pulled back, and murmured, “God I’ve missed you,” before pulling her into him again. “What if I wanted to take a rain check on that mountain climbing and just take a nap? Would my reputation be ruined?”
    â€œI’d say that Superman was probably human.” She kissed him again. “I’m planning on having lots of second chances.”
    They slept until four, ordered in, and watched a movie on HBO.
    â€œI know it’s probably back to work tomorrow.” Elaine wasn’t quite ready to give up having Dan all to herself. She slipped another