“Fine as can be.”
“Good. Did you catch that message Quinten sent?”
“No . . . should I have?”
“I know you keep your ear to the ground.” That was a polite way to put it. Boston Sue was the biggest gossip this side of the Mississippi.
“Nothing came through.”
“It was yesterday; bounced off our hub.”
Her hesitation was so slight, I almost didn’t catch it. “I’m sorry, but there hasn’t been nothing but the usual chatter around here. You know I’d tell you if your brother were trying to get in contact with you.”
I hadn’t told her the message was for me.
She was either a really good guess or she was lying.
“Are you sure you didn’t see anything come through?”
“One hundred percent.”
“Okay,” I said, “if you need anything . . .”
“We’re fine here, Tilly. Keep yourself safe.”
“I will. I’ll call you soon.”
“May the earth rise,” she said.
“And the wind at your back,” I answered.
I thumbed off the walkie-talkie and stuffed it in my duffel.
The door to the ladies’ room opened. I jumped down off the arm of the couch, and walked out of the shadows.
Bede stepped through the door and smiled at me before heading into the washroom. “Needed a little time away from all the noise?” she asked.
Polite and nice, polite and nice.
“It’s all a little overwhelming.”
“I can imagine.” She leaned forward at the sinks to study her reflection, tucked her hair behind her ears, then pulled a small sponge out of a pocket in her dress. “You grew up on a farm?”
“Yes.”
“In my first life I had a piece of land. Grew squash, corn, beans. And apples, of course. Had a hard cider recipe that would knock your knickers off.” She grinned then sponged gently at the blue stitches crossing her face.
“Do you miss it?”
“Every day.” She sighed but was still smiling. “It was a long, long time ago. I think my memory has rubbed the dirt off it and made those days shine, but they were nice. Really nice.”
“Well, I probably should get back,” I said.
“Sure,” she said. “Oh, and, Matilda, if you ever want to change Houses, I hope you’ll keep Blue in mind. I know Troi Blue can come across as cold and imperial, but she’s not unreasonable, like some of the heads of Houses.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I walked out and did some quick math in my head.
