Gabriel's Hope

"Thanks," she murmured. Deidre crossed her arms as she moved to take the seat she'd been in the night before.

Wynn looked like Wynn. Logan had seemed off in hindsight, his gestures unnatural and his talk stilted. Wynn poured her a cup of coffee and sat back, studying her closely.

"Are you well this morning?" he asked.

She nodded. "Are you?"

"Very."

She didn't know what to think about Gabriel after last night. He'd flipped on her again, going from the tender lover to the homicidal maniac. She thought for sure he was coming after Wynn. Yet, Wynn was fine. Was she so wrong about Death?

"I'm happy to see you," she said. "I thought …never mind."

"You were concerned. I'm flattered," he replied with one of his faint smiles. "Did I not tell you that I am not one to worry?"

"Yeah, you did." She released a deep breath. After sobbing herself to sleep, she was almost too tired to appreciate the fact he was alive. "Did anyone come to visit you or anything?"

"No one I couldn't handle, dear," he said. "You're safe here. You know this, I hope. What's on your mind?"

"Just a … bad dream I guess. I'm going crazy, Wynn. Isn't that one of the signs I'm starting to deteriorate?"

"Loss of cognitive function is a sign, yes," he replied. "If you start to deteriorate, I'll tell you. Trust me?"

"Of course. I've always trusted you, Wynn. As soon as I start down that path, I'm …"

He raised an eyebrow. She flushed and rubbed her face. Deidre drank her coffee in silence, feeling Wynn's gaze and unwilling to look at him after almost admitting to the plan. Gabriel's second rule was at the forefront of her mind. She thought she was going crazy already; if she really started to deteriorate, there was no way she'd be able to handle it.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Wynn's voice carried a note of sorrow. "In the meantime, I've got to run out this morning to meet with my financial manager to adjust my plan now that I'm happily unemployed."

"I think you'll be okay," she said, glancing at the mansion.

"Only because I take steps to make certain it stays that way," he said. "Will you be okay here?"

She nodded.

"You have my cell number?"

Another nod.

Wynn rose. "I'll leave the coffee for you and check in later to make sure you haven't decided to act prematurely."

"I won't," she said, clearing her throat. "Thank you, Wynn."

"No need to thank me. It's my fault I can't right this."

At the tight words, she looked at him curiously.