~@~
“Alice?”
Alice rolled over. “What, mom?”
“Gau's here to see you,” she said through the door.
Alice sat up, quickly brushing the hair from her face and the tears from her cheeks before vainly trying to straighten the wrinkles in her heavyweight tee. She grimaced.
“Alice?”
“Yeah, mom. Come ahead.”
Alice cleared her throat, pulling the covers up to the waist of her flannel pajamas as the door opened and Gau walked in. He wore his usual leather-like trousers, but this time he also wore an animal-skin shirt . . . and one arm in a sling.
Alice’s heart fell, the guilt leaving a foul taste in her mouth. Her eyes retreated to stare at her laced fingers. “Hi.”
Gau ducked his head in way of a greeting and moved to stand beside her bed. “You better?” he asked hesitantly. “No hurt?”
“I'm fine.” She glanced up. “You?”
“Look worse than feel. Get better all time.”
Nodding, she shifted her gaze back to her bandaged arm. “Good. Good.” Silence.
“Alice, you angry . . . me?”
She met his eyes. They were almost brown with concern and a little fear. A fear that was her fault. A hurt that was her fault. “No. I'm just tired.” She sniffled and let her gaze retreat. “Can we talk later?”
He nodded, backing away like a whipped dog. Alice winced when she heard the door close after him. Then she submerged deeper under the covers and rolled onto her side, ignoring her tears.
Heart of the Veldt Page 17
