A Dangerous Love

Connie rinsed her mouth and put her toothbrush up before she responded. She came to the doorway. "I like being here with you," she insisted. "I could be a room mate - help you with the bills and pay rent."

"I don't need help with the bills. Thanks to the insurance, there aren't any."

"But you have to eat. That costs money - and gas . . ."

"I don't eat much - or go any place."

"That's just it. You don't do anything but sit around and stare. You answer me, but you don't hear me."

Lisa sighed. "I'm sorry I've been such a poor companion. As for sitting around doing nothing, I'm going to do something about that."

"What?" Connie's tone was pensive.

"I'm going back to the old place in the mountains."

"Well," Connie hesitated. "Maybe a vacation would be good right now, but don't go back there. It will only make you feel worse."

Lisa shrugged. Having everyone run her life was getting old. Maybe that was a good sign. "I don't think so."

"OK, if you have to go, take someone with you. I'll take off work and . . ."

"Thanks," Lisa said as she pulled the bedspread over the pillow. "But you haven't been working there all that long."

"Ask Len to go with you."

Lisa swung around and stared at Connie. "Len? We barely know each other. And he'd have to leave work too." She eyed Connie suspiciously. "Or do you think he'd consider it part of his job to watch me?"

Connie smiled. "I know you've been preoccupied, but everyone else has noticed his interest in you."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "I don't need a boyfriend. I'm not very good at that anyway."

"Allen was no good. You must know that by now."

"I don't know that, but it doesn't matter. I should have known."

"Maybe Howard . . ."

"No." Lisa interrupted. "I've taken up enough of his time."

"He doesn't think so."

Lisa sighed. "I have a cell phone."

"Oh great. If someone tries to attack you, just point it at them."

"Would you rather I took a gun? Dad has one."

Connie looked stricken. "No, of course not. But you're not thinking right. You're still grieving."

"And I will be for a very long time. But life goes on . . . for some of us."