I slipped beneath the covers and fell asleep right away. No dreams invaded my sleep this time and I was thankful. I was shaken awake and rolled over to look into Gabrielle's loving features. She smiled while she caressed my cheek.

"Have you lost your fucking mind," she whispered in my ear. "What if I had sent someone to wake you?"

"I had a good reason," I said. "I am hungry is the bread ready yet?"

"How did you know there was freshly baked bread? Were you out and about like this?"

"NO, I was my handsome self," I told her and her scowl disappeared. "I met two old men,...