Can't Let You Go

Chapter 54

***TALLY/HONEY***

The next day, I'm beginning to feel better, but it's obvious Darius caught whatever I had, only worse. I go down and help Adam with what I can.

"I got sick often when I first moved here. Random fevers and colds, just adjusting to the local microscopic flora and fauna. I doubt it's anything serious, but I'll keep an eye on you both," he assures me.

I bring Darius a breakfast of bread and jam and we both nap until Adam wakes us for lunch. I join him, but Darius stays in bed. Later, I bring him some food and add water to the basin for the cloth I've been putting on his head.

"Honey," he says as I'm about to leave, "can I confess something else?"

"Of course."

"Something I dislike even more than sleeping alone in total darkness, is being alone when I'm sick. Can you stay up here with me until I fall back asleep?"

"No problem. Adam has a lot of books, how about I read to you to pass the time?"

"That sounds good. Thank you, Honey."

There aren't any chairs up here and the beds are closer to an American double mattress than a single, so I sit on the edge of the bed and read.

"You don't look very comfortable. You can lean against the headboard. We've known each other a long time, it won't be awkward. Will it?"

"I guess not." I take the pillow from my bed and get settled.

I don't know how long I read, but I feel like I've barely blinked and find myself having slept all night next to Darius. It's light out and Adam is not in his bed. Darius's forehead is still hot. I change the towel then find Adam outside splitting firewood.

"Feeling better?" he asks when he sees me.

"Much, but Darius is still sick."

"That's too bad, should be a beauty of a day. I made a kind of porridge with polenta and mushrooms. It's on the stove and should still be warm. There's a kettle of water, too."

"Thanks," I go back in and wash myself as best I can in the basin with tepid water.

Darius is awake and slowly making his way down when I come out of the privy. He takes care of his needs and goes back to bed. Having brought a bowl of porridge for each of us, we eat sitting side by side in his bed. When he's done, I take his bowl and he lays back down.

"Now that we've slept together," I tease, "I feel like I'm entitled to ask you personal questions."

"Oh you do, do you?" He chuckles. "Ask away, but I reserve my right to plead the fifth."

"Technically, I've known you for eight years, and I've seen you nearly every day for the past few months, but we rarely talk about things other than work."

"We would talk sometimes when I was tutoring you. You were good at asking me questions which got us off track." He laughs.

"That was years ago, it doesn't count. Let's see, what's the math here? You started tutoring me when I was a junior in high school and you were a senior in college, so you're five years older?"

"Just four, I was a year ahead in school."

"Aaah, Mr. Smartypants. Okay, well, no wonder you were a tutor."

"I wasn't really. I started the intern program at Savis that summer before, which paid very little as all internships do. Word got around Savis that your dad was looking for a tutor and the pay was good, so... I applied and we met."

"Did you like it? Having to hang out with me three times a week and after a while it included three extra students as well."

"Your friends didn't need my help as much as you did though." He smiles mischievously. "But when they showed up, my pay also increased, so it was fine with me."