back at me； smiling her saucy imp's smile。 I cupped my hand around the back of her lovely long neck； drew her face to mine； and kissed her mouth lightly。 〃I love you； Ellie；〃 I said。
〃Oooh； such big talk；〃 she said； but I could tell she was pleased。
〃What about Chuck Howland？〃 I asked。 〃Is he going to get in trouble？〃
〃No； because he's in the TV room； watching Good Morning America with about two dozen other folks。 And I'm going to make myself scarce as soon as the smoke detector turns on the west…wing fire alarm。〃
〃Don't you fall down and hurt yourself； woman。 I'd never forgive myself if … 〃
〃Oh； stop your fussing；〃 she said； and this time she kissed me。 Love among the ruins。 It probably sounds funny to some of you and grotesque to the rest of you； but I'll tell you something； my friend： weird love's better than no love at all。
I watched her walk away； moving slowly and stiffly （but she will only use a cane on wet days； and only then if the pain is terrible； it's one of her vanities）； and waited。 Five minutes went by； then ten； and just as I was deciding she had either lost her courage or discovered that the battery of the smoke detector in the toilet was dead； the fire alarm went off in the west wing with a loud； buzzing burr。
I started toward the kitchen at once； but slowly … there was no reason to hurry until I was sure Dolan was out of my way。 A gaggle of old folks； most still in their robes； came out of the TV room （here it's called the Resource Center； now that's grotesque） to see what was going on。 Chuck Howland was among them； I was happy to see。
〃Edgebe！〃 Kent Avery rasped； hanging onto his walker with one hand and yanking obsessively at the crotch of his pajama pants with the other。 〃Real alarm or just an