"How about some Chinese food? Or have you eaten?" He knew they had to get involved in something immediately or he would take her in his arms and forget his better judgment.
Chatting as she worked, setting up plates and cutlery, Charly told him about her hospital stay, her recovery and her enforced retirement. "I hope the company isn't mad at me for goofing off so soon after being hired."
"Of course not. Having emergency surgery isn't goofing off. How did you get to the hospital, by the way? I heard your parents were away when it happened."
"They're not back yet either. I drove myself to the hospital. It wasn't too comfortable, but I made it."
"Damn it, Charly! Haven't you got any sense? Don't you know your appendix could have ruptured? Why didn't you call me?"
She had seen McKinnon withdrawn, sarcastic, passionate, funny and indifferent. But she hadn't seen him angry, until now. And he was furious. It was a nice feeling, to know that he cared so much.
"But it didn't, so don't have a coronary over it, McKinnon. I'm fine, you're fine, the teddy bear is fine, we're all fine, so relax and eat." She slapped a plate down in front of him none too gently and passed him the Soya sauce.
Silence reigned for several moments, until Charly could stand it no longer. "For heaven's sake, McKinnon, lighten up. Stop sulking. We haven't seen each other for eons and we're fighting. I can't stand it!"
"I'm not sulking, for your information. I just don't like to see people take unnecessary risks. And you did. I thought you promised to call me if you had any problems."
"Work problems, McKinnon. And that was before we decided not to see each other any more. Remember?"
"Don't remind me. Oh, hell, let's just forget it and enjoy the time we have."
They managed to forget their differences for the remainder of a very pleasant evening. They also stayed away from any discussion of their decision not to see each other. Charly was content to enjoy his company for as long as he stayed with her.
"Would you do me a favour, Charly?" McKinnon was sitting across from her, downstairs by the fire, and grinning at her with an almost sheepish look. She wondered what was coming next.
"If I'm able, sure. What would you like?"
"I've been remembering and writing down some of my dreams but I have no idea how to analyze them. If I send some over, would you have a look at them and see what you make of them?"