Chapter 3:

Annie was relived in one way, yet worried sick in another. Strat was being released from the hospital today. He was a little sore, but all he needed now was a little TLC. Annie got a kick out of the way he marveled at the stitches on his stomach. He couldn't believe how neatly they'd been done. They would hardly leave a scar, he said. Not after what he'd seen.

Now came the hard part, getting him past her parents. Her dad wouldn't be a problem. He wasn't home much anymore, and, even if he was, he'd be too preoccupied with Miss Bartten to notice. She had been careful not to leave until after both of her parents were at work, and to return before they got back. The only problem might be her mother. How much would she believe. Of course, Annie reasoned, almost anything would sound believable after all of the thin lies her dad had fed her about Miss Bartten. Her brother, Tod, was good at this kind of thing. She'd have to ask him what to do when they got home. She could wait until then. It was early. Her parents would still be at6 work when they arrived. They. Annie was almost overcome with happiness. Strat was coming home with her!

That morning, before she left, she had filched a pair of jeans and a South Carolina sweatshirt from her brother's closet. They'd have to get him some clothes. Her parents would recognize Tod's, but these would have to do for now. At least Strat would look like you normal, average, teenage guy. It was then that Annie realized she didn't want him to completely blend in, to be normal. It was what she liked most about him: his Victorian charm. Sean was normal, and she defiantly didn't want that again

After much protest, Annie managed to get Strat into her brother's clothes. He couldn't imagine why she would wish for him to meet her parents dressed this way, but she said he had to fit in. This type of clothing was normal in her time. Walk, or any of his collage friends for that matter, would be appalled at even the thought of wearing something like this.

Strat, with his bruised ribs and many stitches, hadn't quite been able to manage the shirt himself, and was, understandably, quite embarrassed when he realized that Annie would have to help him. All of the nurses here were also women, and Annie was defiantly not shy.

Strat had to use all of his gentlemanly self-control in order to prevent himself from doing something he knew he shouldn't. In the back of his mind, Start liked this feeling, this almost animal passion. He had shivered involuntarily When he felt Annie's tough on the bare skin of his back as she lowered the shirt over his head. She'd noticed and given him the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen. This had only sent more bolts of desire coursing down his spine.