Part 37 (2/2)

What's really going on here?

Chapter 20.

By the time Annja emerged from the bathtub, she felt like several layers of gunk had melted off her body. The terry-cloth robe felt like a thick blanket wrapped around her body, and Sheila had even included a pair of slippers Annja hadn't seen until she lifted the robe.

Downstairs, Sheila got her squared away at a corner booth. She smiled as she handed Annja a simple menu. ”Feeling better?”

”Almost human, actually. And thanks for the slippers.”

Sheila nodded. ”Well, your hiking boots don't really go with the robe, and I couldn't have you wandering around here without anything on your feet.”

”They feel as nice as the robe.”

Sheila winked at her. ”I stole them from some big ritzy hotel in Vegas when Tom and I were there a few years back.”

”You mean I'm staying with criminals? I'm horrified.”

Sheila laughed and pointed at the menu. ”See anything you like?”

”One of everything, please. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I got out of the bath. It's as if I haven't eaten in a week.”

”The combination of fresh air and the water in the bath will do that to you. Anyway, I'll tell Tom to make you up something great. Any allergies I should know about?”

”Uh...no.”

”Good. You wouldn't believe the tourists who stop here from time to time with a whole laundry list of things we can't put in their food. The times certainly have changed from when I grew up.”

Annja smiled. ”I guess they have.”

”I mean, what's wrong with an egg yolk every once in a while? Or a few slices of bacon? It's not going to kill you, is it?”

Annja licked her lips. ”You're making my mouth water with all this talk of eggs and bacon.”

Sheila nodded. ”Okay, okay, I'm off. By the way, your friend is upstairs, too. I set her up across the hall from your room. She should be down soon, although she didn't look as if she was in a very good mood.”

”She didn't?”

Sheila shook her head. ”She came in looking all glum. I tried to get her to smile but she wasn't having any of it. No idea what's got her so upset.”

”An affair of the heart, I'd expect,” Annja said. ”She came to town looking for one thing and found out that she was here for something else. I think that's got her a little bit down.”

”She gets any lower and she can be an anchor.” Sheila headed back toward the kitchen and left Annja alone in the dining room. Ten tables sat around the room, scattered in a fas.h.i.+on that wouldn't have anyone sitting right on top of their neighbors. Annja appreciated the fact that Sheila had obviously set up the place for private conversations, if need be. In most of the restaurants Annja had been to lately, the tables were so close together that confidential talk was impossible.

Sheila came back out wielding a coffee pot and a mug. She set the mug down in front of Annja. ”This should help wake you up. You look as if you could use about a year of sleep, though.”

”I could.” Annja sniffed the wafting steam and sighed. ”Nice.”

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