Nadine

19. Best Sleep

I open my eyes and Dipak is holding me. "What happened?"

"You passed out princess. Are you ok?"

"Yea I think so." I sit up a bit and look around. "Where are we?"

"My place." He looks a little worried when he says it.

I blink a couple times and look around some more. "Oh."

He stands up with me then sits me in the chair he was just in. "I'll get you something to drink."

"Frode?"

"Innocent. Thora was hurting herself. He was trying to talk her into getting help. That's why they were arguing." He comes back with some water and hands it to me then sits on the couch.

"That would be consistent with the injuries. I don't know why I didn't think of it. I just thought..."

"That's the way the injuries looked. Even Dr. Cruor was convinced."

I nod and start to look around. "I've never been in one of these." I glance around the sitting room. "You like to read?"

"I like a good book."

I smile looking at all his books on the shelves. "Are they all good?"

He nods. "Some better than others. You can look through them."

I walk over to the bookshelves and start reading through all the titles. I pick one up that sounds interesting and sit by him on the couch. "Can I borrow this?"

"Of course you can sweetheart."

He puts an arm around me and I snuggle into him. "You have a suit of armor."

He looks at me funny. "I also have food. Did you eat dinner at all?"

I think about it for a minute. "No I don't think I did. I'm not really hungry though, you don't have to."

He smiles at me and winks. "I'm not going to let you go hungry. You want to cut up some peppers? I'll get us some meat." He pulls me in closer.

I just look into his eyes and melt. I nod after a couple seconds. I can't find words.

He gives me a little smile and holds me tighter. "Let's get some food, or I'm afraid we will sleep all night sitting on the couch."

At this point, I think I would love that. But I can't say that so I just nod and stand up. It would be really nice to be able to speak. Hello mouth are you here?.

He puts his arm around me and we walk into the kitchen. We make something to eat without saying anything.

When we're almost done eating he finally speaks. "You're to quiet sweetheart."

I look around and shrug my shoulders. "I can't find words."

He kisses my hand. "Was it to early for me to bring you here?"

"No, I don't think so. More like the food." I start laughing. "You made me something to eat because I didn't eat earlier." I start to fight tears.

He smiles at me and picks me back up. "I'll always make sure you have something to eat sweetheart. You're not going to go hungry." He walk us back out and sits us in his chair.

I lay my head on his shoulder and take my gloves off.

I touch his hand and he turns it over and shows me his palm. I just lightly and slowly rub his fingers and palm with my fingertips.

He kisses me on the head after a couple minutes. "I never knew that something that simple could feel that good."

That makes me smile. I'm happy he likes my touch.