Nick rubbed his eyes and stretched up a bit as he poured coffee for the social worker, who had paid a courtesy visit this time, after hearing all about what had happened.

“I'm sorry, Mrs. Baptiste—”

“Lidya, please.”

“Lidya... Val has not been feeling well. She's not sleeping, she's barely eating, and what little she does eat she throws up,” Nick said in despair as he sat down with his coffee in front of her.

“That's normal.” Mrs. Baptiste sighed. “After all you've been through, nerves suffer a lot. Why don't you both take some time off? Take the vacation you had planned with Alice. Get away from this for a while.”

Nick nodded, thoughtfully.

“Yeah, maybe it's for the best. I need the troublemaker to think of something else.”

Mrs. Baptiste laughed at Nick's moniker for Valeria and stood up.

“If I may give you a piece of advice, drive. The road is quiet, there are nice little cabins where you can stay,” she told him. “And now with your permission, I have another social call to mak