Terry and Gene 15

Even in the porch light Terry could see the dark circles under his eyes. It didn't look like he had bathed or shaved in days, either. She wrapped her arms around him and listened to his heart beating. At first, he just stood limply and let her hold him. Then he pulled away from her and shut the door. He leaned against it.

"Jeannetta found a lump in her breast," he said.

"Oh, no. I'm so sorry," she said and held him tighter. He slid to the floor and she went with him. She felt him fighting the tears. Once he seemed in control again, she sat back so he could look at her.

"Come with me. Let's see about getting you some sleep." She stood up and offered him her hands.

Once he was on his feet, she led him to the bathroom. "Take a shower. I'm going to make you some tea that will help relax you. I'll be back in three minutes, OK.

Gene nodded and began to undress. Terry rushed down to get the tea.

When she returned to the bathroom, he was just stepping out of the shower. He had a towel wrapped around him, but the sight of him so scantily clad nearly took her breath away.

She smiled shyly at him. "OK. Take me to your bedroom and we'll see if you can get some sleep tonight," she said quietly.

He took her offered hand and brought her to his bedroom. She could tell he was barely functioning because his expression never changed. The bed was still made.

Terry turned the bed down for him. He dropped the towel and slipped under the sheets. Terry felt her face redden, but she stuck to the job at hand.

"First, drink this. It should be cool enough now." Gene took the cup and drained it, only making a face to comment on the taste. Terry took the lavender oil and crawled up on the bed. She rubbed a little into his temples, palms and the soles of his feet. "If you can lay on your stomach, I can do your back," she murmured in his ear and kissed his cheek.

Obediently, he slid down and laid on his stomach. Terry folded the sheet down to his hips and used some of the lavender lotion to massage his back. Just gentle massage, no pounding or contact with the spine. She was about five minutes into it when she heard him snore. She slipped off the bed and covered him. Watching him, she waited a few more moments to be sure he stayed asleep and then she settled herself in the chair across the room from him.

She woke several times to check on him. Each time he was breathing evenly, but it was several hours before he turned over in his sleep. Finally at about ten o'clock, she got up from the chair and visited the bathroom. As she was coming out, the doorbell rang. She rushed to get it so they wouldn't ring it again.