Chapter 15

           Themutedlightofyetanothercloudydayeventuallywokeme.Ilaywithmyarmacrossmyeyes,groggyanddazed.Something,adreamtryingtoberemembered,struggledtobreakintomyconsciousness.Imoanedandrolledonmyside,hopingmoresleepwouldcome.Andthenthepreviousdayfloodedbackintomyawareness.

           "Oh!"Isatupsofastitmademyheadspin.

           "Yourhairlookslikeahaystack...butIlikeit."Hisunruffledvoicecamefromtherockingchairinthecorner.

           "Edward!Youstayed!"Irejoiced,andthoughtlesslythrewmyselfacrosstheroomandintohislap.Intheinstantthatmythoughtscaughtupwithmyactions,Ifroze,shockedbymyownuncontrolledenthusiasm.Istaredupathim,afraidthatIhadcrossedthewrongline.

           Buthelaughed.

           "Ofcourse,"heanswered,startled,butseemingpleasedbymyreaction.Hishandsrubbedmyback.

           Ilaidmyheadcautiouslyagainsthisshoulder,breathinginthesmellofhisskin.

           "Iwassureitwasadream."

           "You’renotthatcreative,"hescoffed.

           "Charlie!"Iremembered,thoughtlesslyjumpingupagainandheadingtothedoor.

           "Heleftanhourago-afterreattachingyourbatterycables,Imightadd.IhavetoadmitIwasdisappointed.Isthatreallyallitwouldtaketostopyou,ifyouweredeterminedtogo?"

           IdeliberatedwhereIstood,wantingtoreturntohimbadly,butafraidImighthavemorningbreath.

           "You’renotusuallythisconfusedinthemorning,"henoted.Heheldhisarmsopenformetoreturn.Anearlyirresistibleinvitation.

           "Ineedanotherhumanminute,"Iadmitted.

           "I’llwait."