Page 95 of Jael

“Why are you telling me jokes?”

“To make you laugh after a rotten night. What do you call a snowman in the spring?”

“What?”

“A puddle.”

She did laugh at that one, although she couldn’t be sure if it was because of the joke or the earnest look on his face.

“There we go,” he said.

“What does a nosey pepper do?” she said.

“Oh, what? You’re getting in on the action? I don’t know. Whatdoesa nosey pepper do?”

“It gets jalapeño business.”

“Wow.”

She hugged her shoulders to her ears. “You’re jealous. I can tell. My jokes are better than yours.”

“I guess I’ll need to train Siri to tell me better jokes.”

“I wouldn’t bother. I’d say it’s hopeless.”

“Man, so much hostility.”

“Can you blame me after the night I had?” She laughed. “You want anything to drink?”

“No. I’m fine. I won’t stay long.” He sat at the small dining table, maintaining his distance.

She turned on the kettle and dropped a teabag into a mug. “Thank you for coming in.”

“If only I could tell better jokes.”

“Anything is good after spending time with Christopher. I think I’ll lie low for the next few days. Tell him I’m not well. I’ll stick my finger down my throat if I have to.”

“Drastic times call for drastic measures. He won’t believe you unless you sell it.”

“I can make an appointment to see the doctor for a regular checkup,” she said. “His guy will see me and report so I don’t have to.”

“He’s put a tail on you?”

“Yeah. Not a very good one. But it’s meant I can’t visit Becca.”

“How’s she doing? She hasn’t contacted me. I hope that means she’s not scared.”

“She’s doing okay. She has a lawyer now, so they’re putting everything together. We’re hoping to have a restraining order in place soon.”

“Good. I’m glad you convinced her.”

“Martin did that himself when he turned up on her doorstep. I don’t think she understood before how afraid she was of him. And the kids too. She said her daughter’s been having nightmares.”

“If he’s touched her, he’ll go to prison.”

“I know.”

Danny shook his head. “This might not mean a lot to you, but I’ll be praying for her.”

---