fanlight above. She had fallen in love with this house the day she’d found it. In disrepair then, it had swiftly become as beautiful as it was meant to be.
“Leave the doors open,” she told Roy. “Please.”
“You’ve got it.” Following Sonnie, he went from room to room.
The only times Sonnie hesitated were when Roy went into the nursery next to the master bedroom, and into the storeroom where she thought she’d caught sight of a light the night before. She stayed out of the nursery. Nothing looked out of place in the storeroom.
Back on the ground floor, they went into the kitchen. “Can I make you some coffee?” Sonnie asked.
Roy shook his head. “I do need to get back. But I’ll check on you later. You’ll be at work tonight?”
“Oh, yes,” Sonnie said. The idea of spending an entire evening there overwhelmed her. But she had to ask, “If you knew all about me, why did you offer me a job?”
“I didn’t know who you were when we met, Sonnie. You were a pretty woman drinkin’ tea alone each afternoon. You looked sad, and I’ve always been real good at makin’ it my business to cheer people up. I thought you could use company.”
She rubbed his arm and smiled up at him. “You were right—about everything. You are one nice guy, Roy Talon. And so’s that Bo. Are you sure I don’t put off customers, though?”
He frowned at her. “Put off customers? How would you do that?”
“I don’t remember jokes and I’m not...Roy, I’m not a real asset to the Nail.”
“You’re a great asset. Some of those assholes—shit, I mean...Don’t listen too close, please. Some of our fine clientele are even starting to ask when you’ll be in. I’ve even heard it said that you bring class to the joint. Can’t imagine anyone thinkin’ it didn’t already have enough class, can you?”
“No, Roy,” Sonnie said. He was absolutely one of the best.
The phone rang and they looked at each other. When Sonnie made no move to answer, Roy picked it up. “Hello? Uh-huh, you’re in luck, bro.”
Sonnie slid the flowers onto the counter and backed away. Roy signaled for her to stay in the kitchen.
“A-OK,” he said. “Nope. Looks fine. Nothing unusual unless you count bouquets from anonymous admirers.”
Sonnie’s stomach made a leap. The only people who knew where she was were Billy, their Dad, and Sonnie’s Mom. They weren’t likely to send flowers with notes that weren’t signed, and they knew she’d detested calla lilies since her grandmother’s funeral when she was a young teenager.
“That fancy florist on Whitehead Street. Moss Corner? Okay, I’m on my way now.” Roy covered the mouthpiece and said, “You sure you’re okay, Sonnie? On your own, I mean?”
“I’m fine.” She would be fine.
The instant Roy left, and without giving herself time to think, she started pulling drapes from the downstairs furniture. Dust flew and swirled in sunlight through the windows she opened.
Already the day was heating up.
By noon every grimy sheet was piled in the laundry room or already taking its turn in the washer or dryer. The familiar domestic sounds made Sonnie feel almost carefree.
Twice she’d caught sight of Just Ena, or her lodger, on the opposite side of the shrubbery fence, and waved. Then she’d turned purposefully away. These people meant well, but Sonnie wasn’t in the mood to make small talk. And she didn’t like knowing she was being watched.
The crunch of wheels on the gravel driveway stopped her. Her body tensed and her scalp felt too small.
People—normal people—had visitors for a variety of completely harmless reasons.
A car door slammed.
Roy was back to check on her. She quelled a giggle. Before she could reach the front door, a key turned in the lock and Romano Giacano walked in.
Five
“Chris? Do I know a Chris? Νο, I don’t know him anymore, but would that be ace schmuck and deserter Christian J. Talon, formerly of NYPD.”
“Save it,
“Leave the doors open,” she told Roy. “Please.”
“You’ve got it.” Following Sonnie, he went from room to room.
The only times Sonnie hesitated were when Roy went into the nursery next to the master bedroom, and into the storeroom where she thought she’d caught sight of a light the night before. She stayed out of the nursery. Nothing looked out of place in the storeroom.
Back on the ground floor, they went into the kitchen. “Can I make you some coffee?” Sonnie asked.
Roy shook his head. “I do need to get back. But I’ll check on you later. You’ll be at work tonight?”
“Oh, yes,” Sonnie said. The idea of spending an entire evening there overwhelmed her. But she had to ask, “If you knew all about me, why did you offer me a job?”
“I didn’t know who you were when we met, Sonnie. You were a pretty woman drinkin’ tea alone each afternoon. You looked sad, and I’ve always been real good at makin’ it my business to cheer people up. I thought you could use company.”
She rubbed his arm and smiled up at him. “You were right—about everything. You are one nice guy, Roy Talon. And so’s that Bo. Are you sure I don’t put off customers, though?”
He frowned at her. “Put off customers? How would you do that?”
“I don’t remember jokes and I’m not...Roy, I’m not a real asset to the Nail.”
“You’re a great asset. Some of those assholes—shit, I mean...Don’t listen too close, please. Some of our fine clientele are even starting to ask when you’ll be in. I’ve even heard it said that you bring class to the joint. Can’t imagine anyone thinkin’ it didn’t already have enough class, can you?”
“No, Roy,” Sonnie said. He was absolutely one of the best.
The phone rang and they looked at each other. When Sonnie made no move to answer, Roy picked it up. “Hello? Uh-huh, you’re in luck, bro.”
Sonnie slid the flowers onto the counter and backed away. Roy signaled for her to stay in the kitchen.
“A-OK,” he said. “Nope. Looks fine. Nothing unusual unless you count bouquets from anonymous admirers.”
Sonnie’s stomach made a leap. The only people who knew where she was were Billy, their Dad, and Sonnie’s Mom. They weren’t likely to send flowers with notes that weren’t signed, and they knew she’d detested calla lilies since her grandmother’s funeral when she was a young teenager.
“That fancy florist on Whitehead Street. Moss Corner? Okay, I’m on my way now.” Roy covered the mouthpiece and said, “You sure you’re okay, Sonnie? On your own, I mean?”
“I’m fine.” She would be fine.
The instant Roy left, and without giving herself time to think, she started pulling drapes from the downstairs furniture. Dust flew and swirled in sunlight through the windows she opened.
Already the day was heating up.
By noon every grimy sheet was piled in the laundry room or already taking its turn in the washer or dryer. The familiar domestic sounds made Sonnie feel almost carefree.
Twice she’d caught sight of Just Ena, or her lodger, on the opposite side of the shrubbery fence, and waved. Then she’d turned purposefully away. These people meant well, but Sonnie wasn’t in the mood to make small talk. And she didn’t like knowing she was being watched.
The crunch of wheels on the gravel driveway stopped her. Her body tensed and her scalp felt too small.
People—normal people—had visitors for a variety of completely harmless reasons.
A car door slammed.
Roy was back to check on her. She quelled a giggle. Before she could reach the front door, a key turned in the lock and Romano Giacano walked in.
Five
“Chris? Do I know a Chris? Νο, I don’t know him anymore, but would that be ace schmuck and deserter Christian J. Talon, formerly of NYPD.”
“Save it,
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