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Jimmy: Yes, please.

Chase: What excuse are you going to give Melena for leaving?

Jimmy: I don’t think she’ll care as long as I’m out of her hair.

Chase: Jimmy.

Jimmy: What?

Chase: Do better.

Jimmy: OK, OK. I’ll tell her you need my help with your present for Tamra.

Chase: Believable.

Jimmy: I know, right? She’ll never suspect.

Chase knocked on the door. “I’ll get it!”

Melena scowled at me on the couch. “You will not. Stay right there.”

She opened the door. “Chase, I wasn’t expecting you. What brings you here today?”

“I’m here to spring Jimmy.”

“Spring Jimmy? Spring Jimmy how?” she asked.

“He’s coming with me. I need his help with something.”

“What could you use his help with? The man has crutches. He’s not helping move furniture, is he?”

Chase snorted. “I leave all furniture moving to the professionals. This is a manly mission of mercy.”

“Whose mercy?”

“Mine,” Chase acknowledged. “Come on, Melena, even prisoners get parole. Set my brother free.”

“For what? Good behavior? I haven’t seen any.”

Ouch. “I’ll be on my best behavior after I get out of the house. Being cooped up is driving me to drink,” I said.

“The only thing I’ve let you drink is water and orange juice. You’re not supposed to mix alcohol with your meds.”

“Exactly. That’s why I need to get out. So I’m not tempted to go against doctor’s orders. We’ll be fine, Melena.”

She looked at me severely. “Don’t set back your recovery. Between my health issues and your injury, we haven’t had any time for ‘naps.’ I want you to get better.Soon,” she emphasized.

Chase’s eyes widened as he caught her meaning. “I didn’t hear any of that.”

I was second-guessing my choice of Christmas gift. Maybe I needed to get Melena something to take the edge off. I was still a way out from capable thanks to my injuries.

“I’m sorry. I’ll put all my considerable effort into healing. As soon as I get back from my errand with Chase,” I modified.

She didn’t seem mollified. “See that you do.”

Chase seized his opportunity and helped me to his car.

“Melena seems more...intense then I remember.”