In the night, very close to dawn, Chris woke him. He was upset, clutching Joe’s fingers under the blanket.
“What is it?” Joe asked, waking from a deep sleep.
Christophe pushed himself into his arms. “I have to tell you something.”
Already, Joe’s heart was ready to burst. “What’d you do?”
“I’m scared to tell you. I never know how you’ll react.”
Joe sat up and reached over, turning the lamp on. “What’d you do?’’
Christophe sat up as well and put his hand on his thigh.
So, he’d been at it again, then.
Christophe had already resumed his sinful life.
“It’s not what you think.” Christophe made him look at him. “My father is ill, Joe. He’s dying really. Slowly putrefying in a room at the hospital, and I don’t want him to leave the world that way.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I w
