“The heater takes a few minutes to get going.”

“Thank you,” I said, picking up the key.

Room four was small and cold, with a faded floral spread on the double bed and a dark green radiator knocking loudly behind the door.

I turned the brass knob on the radiator pipe, and within a minute warm steam began hissing into the room.

I laid Theodore in the middle of the bed and unfolded the blue wool blanket so the warm air could reach his chest.

His forehead felt dry and hot, and his little legs kicked against the faded bedspread while he made a quiet, broken babble.