“Death is no joke,” I pointed out.
He smiled, a bit ruefully. “I did say that, didn’t I?”
“Among other things.”
A sigh, and then he ran a hand over his hair. “Well, it’s the truth. I was in the right, whether she sees it that way or not.”
To this I said nothing, focusing again on Hazel as I took another bite of my toast.
“Okay, fine.” He sighed. “I was in the right butmighthave handled it a bit more diplomatically.”
“A bit?” I asked.
“How pissed was she, really?”
I looked up at him. “On a scale of one to ten? Twelve.”
BING! went the toaster. He got up, plucking out the slices and dropping them onto a plate, then went to the fridge. “Where’s the butter?”
“Trinity took it.” I pointed. “The porch.”
He glanced down the hallway, then came back to the table. Picking up a piece of toast, he said, “What about you?”
I swallowed. “What about me?”
“How pissed areyou?” he replied. “At me.”
Surprised he’d care either way, I was nonetheless truthful. “Not at all. It was a nice walk.”
“Except for Bailey being at a twelve.”
“Well, there was that,” I agreed. “She cooled down after a mile or so, though.”
He sighed again. Then, nodding at the paper, he said, “One more question and I’ll leave you to your death notices.”
“Shoot.”
“How much is she really into this yacht club guy?”
I thought of Bailey’s face the night before, streaked with tears, as we made our way down the middle of the empty road that led home.
“I think it was pretty obvious,” I said finally. “Don’t you?”
Jack bit his lip, and for a second I could see just whathe must have looked like as a little kid, getting caught for something and instantly sorry. Just as quickly, though, he was getting to his feet, taking his breakfast to go. “Tell her the boat needs gas,” he said over his shoulder as he dropped his glass in the sink. “Not sure she realizes.”
I nodded, and then he was gone, down the hallway to the door. As he went to push it open, I saw him pause, glancing at the entryway to the living room and porch beyond where Bailey was still sleeping. I thought he might go to her or say something. No. He did, however, ease the door shut slowly behind him, so for once it didn’t slam.
Ten
I was working in room three that morning, while Trinity tackled four, her vacuum banging against the wall separating us. I’d just started changing the sheets when Roo passed by, carrying a ladder.
The walkie-talkie was stuck in his back pocket again, and he was whistling cheerfully, as he passed room four, then five, before finally stopping in front of six to set up the ladder. I watched, silent, until he started to climb it. Then I couldn’t help myself.
“Be careful!” I yelled, realizing too late I’d startled him. Whoops. “You need a ladder buddy.”
He just looked at me. “A what?”
“A ladder buddy. So you don’t fall.” God, I was such a dork. I put down my spray bottle, walking toward him. “You know, to hold it. My dad... he has this rule.”
