Cimarron, Denver Cereal Volume 4 by Claudia Hall Christian Page B

his manners, the man’s bright smile
dropped. “I’m sorry to hear you lost one.”
    “ Yeah, I drop the act,”
Valerie said. “Our deal stands.”
    “ Why do they want to talk
to the press?” the man asked.
    “ They tried to talk to the
Board of Education and even the superintendent. They are backing
the Principal,” Valerie said. “The boy wants to go to school and is
blocked because of a jailed child pornography buff. We weren’t sure
what to do. Then I remembered that we have this
agreement.”
    “ The Post doesn’t run
gossip about you or paparazzi photos in exchange for
exclusives.”
    “ Right,” Valerie
said.
    They walked into a small sitting area off
the main Castle living area. The man gasped.
    “ That’s the girl… the one
whose father was…” Whispering to Valerie, the man all but pointed
at Sandy. “No one has interviewed her. Can I ask her…?”
    “ Do this first. Get the boy
back in school,” Valerie said. “Then, she might share her
story.”
    Valerie followed the man into the room and
closed the door.

CHAPTER
NINETY-FOUR Late March Sun
     
    Tuesday morning — 7:10 A.M.
     
    Filtered by the barren winter trees outside,
a renegade sunbeam fell across Delphie’s face. She stirred in the
spotlight. Only partially awake, she listened to the familiar
sounds of her beloved home. Katy’s happy feet tapped back and forth
over her head. Jill’s feet padded after her child. Noelle whimpered
about something down the hall. Mike’s big laugh came from
downstairs. Her nose tickled with the smells of morning: coffee,
tea, bacon… Someone made bacon. Sandy? No Valerie. Valerie loved
bacon. There was a sweet smell in the air. Cinnamon? Honey?
    The sounds and smells of love and morning
caused Delphie to stir. Feeling movement near her, she opened her
eyes and looked puzzled.
    “ You should be at work, Sam
Lipson,” she said.
    “ I should be here with
you,” he said. “I made your tea.”
    She scooted to sit against the headboard.
Looking around, she realized she didn’t know where she was.
    “ Where are we?”
    “ Jake finished this
apartment just before… everything happened. I hadn’t seen it
either,” Sam said. “Would you like a tour?”
    “ What happened to your
rooms? Celia’s gorgeous room? Were they destroyed?” Delphie’s voice
rose with panic and sorrow.
    “ Nothing, nothing,” Sam
said. “Johansen wrecked the chapel. We won’t be able to stay there
until Jake stabilizes the structure.”
    “ My chapel,” Delphie
whispered. Her eyes welled. “I don’t remember…”
    “ Have some tea.” He held
the cup out to her. “We can deal with everything later.”
    “ I told you, Sam. I don’t
need to eat or drink since I’m dead,” Delphie said.
    “ Yes, you told me,” Sam
said. “You always loved your morning tea. Maybe it’s something
you’ll still enjoy. Like dinner last night or using the toilet or
showering.”
    Delphie furrowed her brow as she thought it
through. She gave him a slow nod, took the tea cup from him, and
took a long drink.
    “ I do love tea,” Delphie
said. “You made it just how I like it.”
    He nodded. She leaned forward to kiss
him.
    “ Thanks.”
    “ Sandy made some cinnamon
rolls to celebrate your return home,” Sam said. “Would you like to
try one?”
    Delphie nodded.
    “ I’d like to see your new
apartment,” Delphie said.
    “ Our new apartment,” Sam
said. “We will stay here together until you’re feeling better. Then
we’ll decide what’s next. The doctor said you need to take it
easy.”
    They heard a patter of feet down their hall
and then the sound of little feet jumping. Once. Twice. Three
times. The door knob to the apartment rattled.
    “ Katherine Roper Marlowe,
you cannot just open someone’s door.” Jill’s voice came from the
hall.
    “ Mooommmyy!!!
Noooooo!”
    “ Would you like to see
Katy?” Sam asked. “She wanted to see you last night but fell
asleep. I bet she’s been waiting for you to get