Finn gave plenty of thumbs-up, but stayed back.
Some of the kids looked disappointed, but Mr. Clayton, from a distance, expressed gratitude. “Glad you could make it, Finnegan. Sorry to hear you’re sick. Also grateful you’re keeping your distance. My wife would strangle me if I came home with a virus of some kind. Our kids are already germ factories.”
I chuckled.
The principal turned his attention to me. “I appreciate all the great articles your paper writes about our school—as well as the rest of town.”
I nodded. “I’ve been welcomed here.”
“I hope so. Small-town living can be an adjustment. My wife had rarely left Vancouver before she came out here. The quiet disconcerted her. You’re from the city, right?”
“Born and bred, as the expression goes. Do you have a moment to speak?”
He eyed Finn. “Are you okay?”
I pivoted my attention and found Finn’s brow sweat-slicked. I turned back to Mr. Clayton. “You’re right. I’m his ride, so I’ll get him home.”
“Come by my office tomorrow, and we can chat about whatever’s on your mind.” He glanced over toward the students gathered around David’s mom. Then he gazed back at me.
I nodded.
“Only so much I can say—but I can certainly discuss drugs and how they affect our community. That’s your thinking, right? Or something else?” He waved it off. “Whatever comes up. Tomorrow?”
“That would be great.” I grasped Finn by the elbow.
He didn’t even put up a token protest—which told me just how sick he was.
Within an hour I’d sponged the sweat off him and had him in bed.
“I’m just going to sit at the dining room table to get some work done,” I told him.
“Okay.” Mumbled.
“And I might crash in your spare room.”
“I’m fine.” Slurred. He was headed into sleep.
I brushed his damp hair back from his forehead. “Indulge me. Otherwise I’ll worry.”
“Thought I was getting better.” He coughed.
I winced. I should’ve donned a mask when he’d taken his off. “Well, going out tonight probably wasn’t a good idea. But I understood.” Better to head off that argument before it started. “Take care, okay. Just call if you need me.”
“Yep.” He rolled onto his side, curled into a ball, and was asleep within moments.
I worked at the table for a while. I watched television for a while. Eventually I crawled into his spare bed for a fitful night.
In the morning, his fever appeared to have broken.
So, reluctantly, I headed to work.
Chapter Eighteen
Finn
—I miss you. —
I hit send before I could reconsider my choice. Then I didn’t give Ulysses a chance to respond before I sent the next text.
