�Well, now. I wouldn�t rush to judgment on that point, if I were you,� Harry said quietly.

Diane made a face at Harry, and he smiled. She rubbed his arms for a moment. She happily determined he was no accountant, either.

The EMS technicians had Bob on a gurney, and they were preparing to roll him out of the room. Diane looked down at him, and said to the prematurely balding young man who was adjusting his oxygen mask, �You had better cuff him to the rails. He was fighting like superman a few minutes ago.�

�Yeah, okay, lady,� the technician looked up and gave her a wink.

Diane shuddered. She decided she would be happier if no one would ever wink at her again. �I�m not kidding,� she said.

When the three-ring circus had cleared out of Diane�s apartment, Danny stayed behind a while and made sure Diane had eaten something and helped her clean up. �I could stay here again tonight, Diane. I would be happy to do that for you.�

�Thank you, Danny. I think we�ll be fine now.�

Danny gave Denby a warning look, and reluctantly left the apartment. He looked disappointed, but he didn�t say any more. Diane threw the bolt and latches behind him.

�I set up the couch for you. Just holler if you need more pillows. I know you must be in some pain now. I have some Aleve in the bathroom if you need it.�

Denby sat at the kitchen table, slowly sipping his coffee. He wanted to add Kahlua to the coffee, but he realized at that moment that he no longer needed it. Through circumstances beyond his control, he had been sober for over two weeks, and he was starting to like how the clarity felt. He had long admired Diane secretly for her ability to choose sobriety even when the Devil himself had put a drink into her nervous hand. She had fondled the glass for a second, then decided to get up and walk away. He wondered when he would be able to do that. He knew that if he found a drink in his hands, he would pour it down his throat.

�Are you okay?� Diane asked, noticing Denby�s quiet contemplation of his coffee.

He looked up, shaken from his meditation. �Oh, yes. Fine. I�m fine, thanks.�

�No you�re not.�

�Okay, I�m not. But I think I will be. Some day.�

�That�s better. I like it when you tell the truth.�

�I�ll try to remember that.�