“What is it?” Jim asked.
“It’s my foot,” said Annabel.
“Have you taken any drugs?”
“Yes, but get my bag, I’ll take some more.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I’m just going to stay in bed. It’s warmer here, the flat is so cold.”
Jim said nothing. He didn’t want to turn up the thermostat unless he had to, and he knew Olivia had plenty of blankets.
“Go to work, if you have to,” Annabel urged.
“It’s okay, they’ve given my oral exams to Asher and have rejected all my proposals. I only have eight students. They’ll have no reason to keep me on before long. Next term I might not have any and then it’ll be a fait accompli.”
Jim regretted these words. They could only make Annabel’s mood worse. His stretch saved him by vibrating.
“Who is it?” asked Annabel.
“It’s Elijah, they’ve sold their ho
