The kid gave a bit of a smile. “All my life.”
Was he some California kid? Knew who directed and produced every movie? “Make the oldies laugh and calm Sara down. Think you can do that?”
His eyes were sparkling. “Sure. I can sing like a forties crooner.”
“They’re more of a ‘Can’t Get No Satisfaction’ generation.”
“Then give me an electric guitar.”
Lenny wasn’t sure if he greatly disliked the smart-aleck kid or wanted to adopt him. “Just take Sara away and keep her occupied. Don’t let her return here until after four. Got it?”
“Yes, sir! I’ll do it.”
At that Lenny gave a smile—which he tried never to do. The scar on his head wouldn’t let one side of his face move. A smile emphasized the imbalance and turned his face into a hideous mask. At the sight, even people who knew him stepped back.
But the kid didn’t so much as blink. “Any more orders, sir?”
“Go on,” Lenny said gruffly, trying to quit smiling so he looked less scary.
The boy started toward the house, but turned, walking backward. “Is the VHS in the Palm Room? And the great Harry Adair’s movies are in there?”
Lenny’s smile left as he realized “who” the kid was. He was what Barbara had been searching for. There was a look of her in his eyes. But his walk was pure... Lenny blinked as he tried to place it. He cursed at his brain. It wasn’t as agile as it had once been. “The tapes have been moved to the old-age home. You just need to go there and hook the machines up.”
“Easy,” the kid said, then began running to the house.
Lenny saw a shadow move. He knew from the shape that it was Rachel. He smiled—as much as his face would allow, that is. Since Sara was going to be occupied, maybe he could be the one to find out some things from Rachel.
It wasn’t easy, considering the stiffness of his body, but he confronted her. Her look of surprise pleased him. He hadn’t lost all of his abilities! “Everyone is gone. Want to have lunch?”
She hesitated.
“Just us. No one else.”
That seemed to intrigue her, and he wondered why.
While he’d been outside, the food from Mitford Tea had been delivered and was on the counter.
Rachel looked at the name on the bag. “We’ll have tea? In fancy cups? And pink cakes with roses on the top?” Her sneer deepened with every word.
“How about beer and ham sandwiches?”
“Great!”
Lenny put the bag back in the fridge and pulled out bread rolls, lunch meat, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and mustard. He popped open the top on a bottle of beer and handed it to her. “You don’t act like a Connecticut lady.”
“Thanks,” she said as she drank. “My husband thought the same thing. He wanted me to live in tennis whites.”
“Exposes a lot.”
“A country club boy’s dream. So what happened to your face?”
“Got shot in the head.”
“I bet that hurt,” she said.
“A bit.” He tried not to smile as he handed her a fat sandwich on a plate. “Here? Outside? Where?”
“Out.”
