“You’re not much of a morning person, areyou?”
“I’m not much of an anything person. If you haven’t noticed bynow.”
I finally blinked my eyes all the way open to find her staring at me hard. “What?”
She bit her lip and shook her head, finally looking away. “Nothing. I have no idea what kind of person you are, Murphy.” She spread her arms wide. “I’m here to find out,though.”
Was that her version of an apology? Did this interaction require me to level one as well? I needed more sleep to consider theseproblems.
“Let me clean up, and then I can tell you what I’ll have you doing.” I cradled the coffee in my hand, hoping to steal a few more seconds of shuteye.
The snort she let out probably meant that wasn’t going tohappen.
“I’ve already washed the glasses, the counters, the tables, and mopped the floor. That’s the only reason I came back here. The floors are drying. If you step out there, I will hit you in the forehead with the mop handle.” She said it deadpan, and I didn’t doubther.
“I’ll be staying here with my coffeethen.”
“Safe choice.” She hopped up in the old desk and swung her legs back and forth underneath. “So, this is where the magichappens?”
“If by magic you mean the horny patrons sneak off for a quickie right where you’re sitting…thenyes.”
She froze, her eyes stuck wide, and I couldn’t help but smile at the mix of revulsion and doubt on her face. “You’re screwing withme.”
“Well, they will do it anywhere dark and quiet. So not just right where youare.”
She started swinging her legs again as she peered around the room. The couch and the desk dominated most of the dingy space. A file cabinet with my old taxes sat in the corner, but I’d never needed much. It occurred to me, Mara couldn’t sit still if someone tied her down and sat on top of her. I didn’t even have the energy to let my mind wander to the filthy places fromthere.
“What else do you do all day?” she asked, shuffling papers in apile.
I had no organizational system, and if it made her happy to move them, I wouldn’tcomplain.
She eyed me, making sure I wasn’t about to start raving like a loon before lining the sheets up and knocking them togethervertically.
“What do we do in a bar? Generally, question our series of damaging lifechoices.”
“Are you always so sarcastic in themorning?”
“Only when people wake me up before a reasonablehour.”
“I brought you coffee.” She gestured at the now empty mug and sent her legs swingingagain.
“Next time, bring the pot.” I shifted around on the couch intent on standing and getting on with theday.
She blocked my path with an extended leg. “Floor is stillwet.”
“This floor is going to be more wet if you don’t let me getthrough.”
With a scowl, she dropped her leg, and I pinched her thigh before slinking out the door. The floor had dried mostly, and I kept to the matte spots so I could keep from messing up her work. Once I was groomed and dressed, I came back in to find her sweeping the office floor. “We don’t do employees of the monthhere.”
She didn’t respond, only kept on swiping the broom back and forth, into crevices, and underfurniture.
“Mara?”
No answer. I clapped my hands, and she jerked to a halt and finally looked my way. She blinked a few times as if coming out of a fog before forcing a smile. I could tell she didn’t want to get into it, and I wouldn’t push her on it rightnow.
“I’m going to make something to eat. Are youhungry?”
I backed out the door to her quick nod. The sound of the broom started again before I ducked into the kitchen. The gleam on the stainless steel struck me first, and the fact that every glass was put away. That hadn’t happened since1989.
