Page 62 of Come Back to Bed
“Bossy.”
“Go up the stairs. Now.”
She opens her mouth to yell at me and then has a coughing fit. It makes her mad and her expression tells me she blames me for the fact that she’s coughing. I feel bad for her, but it’s really cute. I stay right behind her, so she doesn’t fall backwards. I notice that she wobbles as she reaches for the handrail.
“Are you sure all you took was Theraflu? Because you smell like red wine.”
“Yousmell like red wine.”
“You should not have come downstairs in this state.”
“What state? Vermont? The Theraflu hasn’t kicked in yet. I’m fine. Look!”
She runs up to the landing, but when she gets there, she grabs onto the wall. “Whoa.”
“Don’t do that.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. How much wine did you drink?”
“Not wine.” She holds up an index finger to lecture me. “Medicine. Old family recipe. You heat up a cup of red wine with honey and cinnamon and lemon. All better.”
“You mean mulled wine? Keep walking. Slowly.”
“It’s for the flu,” she snaps. “Do you have the box from my mom?”
“I’m holding onto it right here, see?”
She doesn’t look back, just stomps up the stairs, and refuses to talk to me until we get to the fourth floor.
She tries to open her door, but can’t get the keys in the lock.
“I’ll do it.”
“I got it.”
“Hold onto the leash.”
She happily takes Daisy’s leash and frowns at me as she hands me the keys. I open the door and place the box on the coffee table in the living room.
“Thank you,” she says, begrudgingly. “I’m going to bed now.”
“Okay.” I take the leash from her.
“Can you do me a favor and make sure I’m up by eight tomorrow?”
“No, but I can do you a bigger favor and make sure you stay in bed all day tomorrow.”
“Pffft.I’ll be fine. I’m gonna take another Theraflu now.”
“You can’t take two doses of Theraflu in one night.”
“Don’t be such a bossy prude.”
“You can wreck your liver by taking too much acetaminophen at once.” She’s infuriating.
She stomps her feet again and crosses her arms in front of her chest. “I feel fine. Go live your life. I feel awesome. Stop moving your face.”
