Chapter 28

Marqi looked out the window reflectively as she sneezed yet again. Used tissues were littered around her like land mines, and Mei had to step carefully around them when she came into the room with a tray of soup.

“Here’s your chicken soup,” she said, pushing the tray onto the desk. “You need anything else?”

Evidently Mei or Bo or whichever of them it was today did not approve of head colds.

“No, thanks,” Marqi answered, blowing her nose ferociously into a tissue. She tossed this one aside too and scooted her desk chair closer to the tray. The sight of the hot, steaming soup was enough to cheer her even in her dreary state, and Mei exited hastily lest the ailing patient make another request.

Marqi ate her soup slowly, savoring every bite. The celery and carrots floated in a perfection of chicken broth, and she thought she had never tasted anything so delicious. Every mouthful was a spoonful of heaven and when she had cleaned every drop from the bowl, Marqi retreated to her bed, pulled the covers over her head, and promptly fell asleep.

It was hours later and dark when she awoke again. She reached for the tissue box by the bed only to find it empty. Shoving her feet into slippers, Marqi went padding around the house in search of a spare box. She was halfway across the downstairs when she heard a low moan that arrested her.

It was coming from Dennis’s office; was he supposed to be back today? She tried to get her virus-addled brain to remember. She took a few steps closer as the moaning intensified. She reached his door and trembled, afraid of what she might find on the other side. With a shaky hand she pushed open the door and revealed him in all his glory.

“Oh, Marqi,” he said, sneezing into a handkerchief as he saw her. “What are you doing out of bed?”

He was shivering and huddled before his computer with a red nose and a haggard face.

“I might ask you the same thing,” she countered, raising an eyebrow. “When did you get back?”

“This morning,” he sneezed again. “Mei was kind enough to make me some soup.”

“Uh huh,” Marqi said.

“I feel better,” he told her.

“Really?” she said doubtfully. “Cuz you don’t look it.”

He waved his hand at her. “I’ll be fine.”

He sneezed again. “Dang. Hand me a tissue.”

She turned over the empty box and shook it. “We’re all out.”

He shouted unceremoniously for Mei who appeared on the scene dressed in a head scarf and raincoat.

“We’re out of tissues,” Marqi told her.

“And we need more soup,” Dennis said pathetically.

“Yeah, yeah,” Mei grumbled. “I’m going.”

“Thanks, Mei,” Marqi said sincerely as she walked over to Dennis. He blew his nose on her bathrobe and Marqi was too sick to be properly disgusted. “Let’s go to bed.”

She closed his laptop in the middle of his memo, and for once, Dennis didn’t object. Instead he meekly allowed her to take his hand and lead him from the room.

He patted her head softly as she snuggled into bed beside him, and they both closed their eyes.

Kindness, like a virus, was catching.