Part 12 (1/2)

'Well, you two must be exhausted. Maybe you'd like to freshen up.'

'I could sure use some sleep,' Melanie told her.

'Fine. Why don't you go ahead and get some rest? Do you have your things?'

'Out in the van.'

'Fine. Harrison, why don't you give them a hand with their luggage? I'll get out some clean sheets and towels.'

'Pen, are you staying?' Bodie asked.

'Wella'

'There's no need to rush off,' Joyce said. 'Besides, I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do with your sister.' Pen hesitated.

'You don't want to be alone,' Bodie told her.

'No, I suppose not.' She nodded to Joyce. 'If you don't mind, I could use a little rack time myself. Rough night.'

'It's all settled, then.' She bobbed her head briskly.

'I'll give you that hand with the bags,' Harrison said. 'No need,' Bodie told him. 'We haven't got much.'

'I guess I'll be on my way, then.'

Bodie expected Joyce to protest. She'd been eager enough to keep everyone else at the house. But she stood up as Harrison rose from the sofa, and said, 'Thanks so much for everything. I don't know what I would've done.'

'Just give me a call if you need me.'

'I will. Thanks again.'

'You'll be going over to see Whit tonight?' he asked.

Joyce nodded.

'Keep me posted.'

'Certainly.'

'I'm sure it'll all turn out fine. Whit's a tough old bird. He won't let a little thing like this keep him down.'

They all said goodbye, and Harrison turned away. Joyce didn't see him to the door.

Joyce poked her head through the bedroom doorway. 'I put some fresh washcloths and towels in the bathroom. If you need anything you can't find, just give a yell.'

'Thank you,' Bodie said.

She left. Bodie continued helping Melanie put clean sheets on the bed. 'Did this used to be your room?' he asked.

'It was. All new furniture, though.'

'Good thing. I bet you didn't have a bed like this.' It was a strange bed, unlike any that Bodie had seen before, a single with a s.p.a.ce beneath it for a second bed. They had rolled out the bottom section, Joyce showing them how to raise it level with the other mattress. 'Nice that she didn't give us any grief about sleeping together.'

'She knows I live with you.'

'Still, some peoplea'

'She isn't my mother.'

'She seems nice.'

Melanie raised an eyebrow. Removing a leather toilet kit from her suitcase, she said, 'Back in a minute.'

Bodie sat on the bed. He rubbed his face. He felt vague and a little nauseous. Sleep would take care of that. And sleep would be a welcome release from having to face all this. A lot was going on. More than he wanted to think about.

Melanie came back.

'Do you have to use the john?' she asked.

'Yeah.'

'It's at the end of the hall.'

He got up slowly and crouched over his suitcase to take out his toothbrush and paste.

'When you go by,' Melanie told him, 'take a peek into the master bedroom.'

He did as she asked. In the bathroom, he brushed the fuzz off his teeth, washed his face and used the toilet. Then he returned.

Melanie shut the door. 'Did you see the bed?'

'Yeah. Something special about it?'

'It wasn't made.'

'No.' The covers and top sheet had been left in a messy heap near the foot of the bed. 'So?'

'So who used it? More to the point, when?'

'I don't know.'

'Guess.'

Bodie sat down and pulled his shoes off. Getting out of his shoes felt wonderful. He hadn't been aware of how hot and cramped his feet had been. 'It doesn't have to be that. Joyce and your father might've been using it before they took off for the restaurant.'

'I doubt it.'