No Strings Attached

Della wriggled her tiny arms and legs with unbridled excitement upon seeing Clara.

Christy chuckled, "Look at how much she adores you. She doesn't even get this worked up when she sees her daddy."

Roger, feeling a pang of jealousy, retorted, "Who says? My little girl loves me the most. She proves it every day, wetting and soiling my clothes." Their laughter and banter filled the hallway as they entered lan's hospital room. They found him alone, sitting on the balcony, enjoying a cigarette.

Clara marched up to him, snatched the cigarette from his fingers, and stubbed it out in an ashtray. She flung the window open to air out the room, her face set in a stern expression. "Doctor's orders are there for a reason, lan. If you keep this up and your wound doesn't heal, don't expect me to fuss over you."

Roger couldn't help but feel vindicated. "Exactly, let's not baby him. Some people just don't deserve the attention. No wonder he's still a bachelor, while I, on the other hand, am the model husband, always listening to my wife and never doing what she dislikes, right, honey?"

shot him a glare. "We're here to visit the sick, not to settle

forgot, this rascal nearly bit the dust. Tough as nails, though. We'll have to grab a

coldly, "Not picking up wilted lilies at the funeral home anymore? Moved on to drinking, have we?

Christy turned to Roger. "What's this about picking up wilted lilies? When

explained, "Well, I was thinking of buying them, but Chase said, why waste money on fresh flowers that cost a fortune? Better to save it for a drink,

it. You're getting a budget

a card from her purse, offering it to Clara. "Mr. Hayes, Clara, don't stoop to

it to her. "Take it, Clara. It's our goddaughter's way of showing her affection for her godfather. We'll get you some nice

now she was handing over a substantial amount to lan. Did money just blow into their house like leaves in the wind? He had worked hard for

frustration. One more wrong word, and it wouldn't just be a cut in allowance but a halt in marital relations. He couldn't afford to slip up. With a snort of contempt, Roger taunted, "Enjoy playing the cheap godfather, spending someone else's