19
“Him? He’s just a sad kid living a sad life.”
She must be an angel, he reasoned. Only an angel could think that way. For the first time since he had entered the room he looked her in the face and said, “Even after…, never mind.”. She could be hurt, even made to cry, but she must not be able to hold a grudge, he thought.
“Never mind what?” she asked.
“Nothing, it’s not important.”
“It sounded important to you.”
“It’s not, it’s nothing.”
“OK,” she said with a shrug. “Where’s your bathroom?”
“What?” he said a little louder than he was comfortable with. The idea that she used the bathroom surprised him. He realized it was a ridiculous thought, but it caught him off guard anyway. “Oh,” he tried to sound like it was his hearing that was at fault, “back toward the kitchen, second door on your left.”
As she walked out the door, Tommy could hear his father’s heavy footsteps coming down the hall. They exchanged greetings, and then he could hear his father ask her, “Is Tommy keeping you entertained?”
“Oh yes sir, we’re watching CNN. It’s informative, you know.”
“Well, all right then,” was all he said. They continued in opposite directions, and Tommy, Senior, walked through the family room door.
“Hi Bud, how’s it going?”
“Great,” Tommy said, trying not to encourage more questions.
“CNN?” Tommy Sr. asked with a quizzical look.
“It’s what she likes,” Tommy responded.
“Hey Bud, she’s a cutey,” his father said with a little grin and raising his eyebrows.
“She’s more than cute, Dad,” which to Tommy’s horror came out of his mouth just as Anne stepped behind his father. She came around Tommy Sr’s side turning toward her chair right in front of Tommy looking down with a shy smile on her face. Tommy could feel his face warm as it slowly turned red from his throat to his scalp.