At about the time Donald was wiping the Bishop's tears, Sarah stopped worrying about herself and started to worry about Donald. This made loving him so much simpler.
She left a message and they finally got in touch that evening.
"How are you?" she asked him.
"I'm okay."
"I'm worried about you." Once again, her innermost thoughts collided with her spoken words. It felt a little like violence.
"You are?"
"I just want you to be okay," she said.
"Listen, I know that dating me is a big pain in the ass."
"Well, I'd understand if you couldn't."
"You would?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, praying he would contradict her.
"What if I could?"
"If you could?"
"Would you understand that?" he asked.
"Ha!" she laughed. She didn't usually laugh like that, as a word. She usually had more of a breathing laugh. "I don't know!" she said and laughed some more.
"See me tonight," he said. It was the first time he had ever given her an order. She responded immediately.
"Come over," she said. "Bring a toothbrush."