Part 18 (1/2)

Greg had stopped sobbing but he still clung to Winn's neck.

”I'm sorry,”

Cynthie whispered.

One warm soft hand continued to rest on Winn's shoulder as the other

comforted her child. Her hair smelled like fresh air and laundry soap and ithelped to dispel the smoke that still hung in the air.The clock chimed and Greg pulled away to count. ”One, two, three.””Time to be asleep,” his mother said.”Promise you won't go?” he said, turning to Winn.Cynthie wanted him to promise exactly that but she knew he would qualify it.”Not without saying goodbye,” he said.”Promise.” He solemnly put one hand on his heart.Greg allowed his mother to take his hand and lead him toward the stairs. When he turned around to look at his friend, Cynthie looked, as well.Moonlight was streaming through the window by the door, leaving him insilhouette. He stood erect, his head c.o.c.ked slightly to one side, listeningfor their footsteps. ”Good night,” she said softly.

”G'night,” echoed Greg.

”Good night,” Winn responded and heard them go up the stairs. He reached behind him to find the door and made sure it was closed. Using it to get hisbearings, he went to the bedroom. He opened the window as wide as possibleand returned to the bed.

He wanted to sleep but he didn't know what waited for him if he did.

The nightmares had become more frequent. They were often violent and alwaysdisturbing. He didn't want to think about them but he had to admit that he didn't know what waited for him during the day, either.

He tried to empty his mind and listen only to the creaking of the house andthe night sounds through the window. With a start he realized that the creaking he now heard was not coming from the house. Someone was opening thedoor to his room. It closed very gently and there was a whisper of bare feeton the floor. A moment later a tiny bit of weight was added to his mattress.

”Greg?” he whispered.

”Shh,” was the reply.

Winn felt for the sheet to cover the child and moved to give him more room.Moments after the child was settled, Winn could hear his deep, evenbreathing. He envied his ability to relax so quickly.

In a matter of minutes, however, he, too, fell into a dreamless sleep,eased by the child's serenity.

It was later than usual when Cynthie dragged herself into the kitchen.

She had worked hard the previous day and had fallen into bed exhausted, onlyto be awakened in the night by her little boy's cry. Afterward, she hadfound it impossible to fall back to sleep. She had lain awake until the early morning hours thin king of Winn.

Through the window, she saw him ma king his way toward the door guided by the rope. She didn't want him to be startled when he came in and found her there, so she called out, ”Good morning” before he opened the door.

”Morning, ma'am,” he responded, coming inside and carefully closing the door.

”Have you seen Greg this morning?” she asked. Looking up from her breakfastpreparations, she saw the muscles in his face tighten for a second. She was surprised. It was just a figure of speech. He had never reacted that waybefore, and she knew it had slipped out more than once.

After a moment he answered, ”He's sleeping in your father's bed.”

Cynthie wasn't sure what to make of him this morning. Surely it was Winn'sbed by now. But he wasn't staying. She had to remember that.

Maybe he hadn't gotten any more sleep than she had.

”I'm sorry,” she said softly.

”Don't be sorry. He didn't bother me.”

There was a sharpness in his tone that made her look up again. Was he angryat her for not keeping her son out of his room or for saying she was sorry?

She decided she'd let it go.

”Will you eat in here with us this morning?”

”No, thanks, ma'am.”She wondered why she bothered to ask. He never ate with them if he couldavoid it. She had an idea. ”You know, if you go back to your room now,you'll wake Greg. Why don't you have a seat here while you wait for him toget up? He never sleeps very late.”

He seemed to think about it for a moment before he found the chair and satdown.”Coffee?” she asked hopefully.Winn laughed, but it was a laugh of resignation. ”It sounds good.””I'm glad.” Cynthie got the cups and set them on the table.”It'll be ready in a couple of minutes.”

Winn laughed again.

”I suppose by the time my coffee's ready the rest of the breakfast will be, too.”

”If I time it right.”

”You know, for a woman who isn't very bossy, you sure seem to get your own way.”

There was a teasing quality in his voice she had only heard him use with

Greg. She liked it, and even more, she liked having Winn to herself. She

hoped little Greg would sleep until noon. She brought the coffee to the table as soon as it was ready and continuedwith the rest of the breakfast preparations. She watched him while she worked. Despite his teasing, he didn't seem particularly comfortable. He kept his hands wrapped around the china cup and sat rather stiffly.

Finally he let her know what he was thin king.

”Ma'am, I've got to come to some decision but I just don't know what to do.” Cynthie slid the skillet off the hot stove and came to sit across from him. ”How can I help you?” ”You've already helped me, but I can't stay here forever.” Cynthie poured herself a cup of coffee to give her shaking hands something to do.”Where will you go?” She was surprised her voice didn't shake as well.”That's the problem, ma'am. I don't know.””Listen,” she said, putting one hand on his arm. ”Don't be in too big a hurry. When you first came, I wrote my father's doctor in New York.

I haven't heard from him yet. He may know of something we can do. Why don't you wait until we hear from him? ”

Winn shook his head.

”If he hasn't answered by now, I doubt that he will.”