Commitments Read Online Free PDF Page B

in the room. ''m rised.' ou expected to find prisoners freezing in their s?' he asked, then took his time answering. ''t work that way. Segregation units are cold, but t's to make it worse when they strip you downand you in. The rest of the time they figure that if make you sweat, it'll zap your strength., He eyed levelly. ' want docility.' She supposed she could understand that - the docilpartPage 12
    Barbara Delinsky - Commitments
    Trying to think positively, she asked, ' you outside much?' -1 get yard time.' ,,She glanced at the windo*. ''s been a horrid ter."
    ,,-'Have your husband send you south. He can afford She smiled sadly, rubbed her arm, shook her head. ' can't afford it?' Derek asked. ', he can, but I can't go.' ' of Nicky.' She paused, then made a tiny gesture with her head Ahat passed for a yes. ' old is he now? 39
    "Thirty-four months., ''s nearly three.' The smile that had been sad turned contrite. ' months sounds better. More babylike. He's still pretty much a baby., ' progress?' ' is relative, I suppose. He doesn't choke so much when he eats.' ' do the doctors say?' Lifting one shoulder a fraction, she spoke in a troubled tone.
    "The same thing as always - that his development is delayed and that they don't know why., ' they hold out any hope for improvementv '
    much.' Derek grew quiet. He leaned back in his chair, compressed his lips, stared out the window. ' story was accurate, Derek. It clearly depicted the problems.' ' tried to go beyond that. ' could you?
    There are so few answers., ' came up with one.' He slowly turned his head and looked her in the eye. rwiu you institutionalize Nicky? l She began to deny it automatically. She gave a quick head shake - then cut it short when it occurred to her that she wasn't talking with her husband, or with their friends or relatives. She was talking with Derek. She'd taped the story he did and had watched it half a dozen times. He took great care with his words, but their gist was clear. He believed that in some cases institutionalization was the best course. He understood. ', I don't know. Yes, maybe. ' you're not sure., She thought about that for a minute. Then she ed her fingers together in her lap, took a deep, %ned breath and looked down. ''m sure. it's just a popular position.' wasn't a popular position back then, either. Therts claim that regardless of his handicap a child st at home.' rina nodded.
    "That is what therapists claim. ows how much they know.' loo ed up in surprise, becau. s she could have e he was teasing. But there was no humor in his ression, particularly when he asked, ' you have [email protected],%ome. It's hard to get sitters to come back a second " 3. 1 is his father home with him now?' an I V ' quite/ she remarked. Then, feeling inst t unorse raced on in -the hope that her sarcasm would overlooked. ' husband is in Chicago on business. is with one of the two therapists who alter-..,...%Aately work with us.' As they'd been discussing Nicky, Derek seemed to e relaxed a bit. His shoulders were still straight, he'd slid a little lower in the chair, crossed his legs the ankles and dug his hands into the pockets of his s. Sabrina was t[hinking thit, prison garb and all, was a very attractive man, when he took her off d by announcing, ' don't like your husband.' ,-",-Her first impulse was to laugh, because there'd been mething sounding suspiciously like jealousy in the -declaration. She was flattered. She was also frightened, F. cause her feelings were uncomfortably close to
    ,-Derek's, and she sensed that once started she'd very possibly laugh her way into hysterics. She compro-with a slightly uneven, ' did that come from?' Derek pointed to his gut. ' you've never met him., He shrugged. ' that because he wouldn't cooperate on your story?' ' that because I think he makes life hard for you.' He was looking out the window, his face as staunchly set as ever, but Sabrina felt a tiny nugget of warmth inside her. it had been a Iong, long time since she'd felt that