Out of the Easy(55)

Was he blushing? “Oh,” I said, not wanting to reveal the internal smile beaming through my chest. “How’s Charlie?”

“He’s been sleeping a lot. Nearly twenty hours a day. I have to wake him up to eat.”

“Do you think it’s the medicine?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I’m going to ask Randolph.” Patrick pulled a plate from the cupboard and handed it to me. “I was looking for an extra pillow for Charlie in his closet. I found his manuscript on the top shelf.”

“Did you read it?”

“I feel bad saying this, but yeah. I know he’d want me to wait until it’s finished. But I was dying to read it. And you know what? It’s really good. I wish he could have finished it.”

“Well, you never know. Maybe he will when he gets better,” I said.

We sat at the kitchen table to eat. I had hoped we would eat in the dining room, but that may have seemed too formal. I kept telling myself to stop thinking of the visit as a date. I had eaten with Patrick hundreds of times. But I couldn’t help it. Once I left for Shady Grove, I didn’t know how long it would be until I saw him. We started eating, and I told him about Mother.

“Whoa. Jo, that’s crazy,” said Patrick.

“I know it’s crazy. Dora says they want to ask Mother some questions because someone reported that they saw her with Mr. Hearne.”

“What does Willie say?”

“Willie’s making me go out to Shady Grove.” I looked at Patrick. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

“Well, that makes sense. She doesn’t want your mother to drag you into the drama.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll be gone,” I repeated. “We may have to close the shop.”

“I’ll figure something out,” said Patrick. “You could probably use the vacation. Take a bunch of the new books you’ve been wanting to read.”

We finished dinner, exchanging random small talk. I debated every other minute as to whether I should bring up what had happened in the shop.

“Say, Jo, can I ask a favor?” said Patrick. “Remember James from Doubleday? It’s his birthday, and his girlfriend is throwing a party tonight. They invited me, and I really wanted to make an appearance but . . .”

“But you need someone to stay with Charlie.”

Patrick nodded. “I’d take you to the party, but Randolph is busy tonight and can’t come by.”

“Of course I’ll stay with Charlie.”

“Aw, thanks. I won’t be long.”

I cleaned up the dishes, and Patrick went upstairs to check on Charlie. He came down in a blazer and tie.

“You look nice. And you smell nice, too.” It smelled like new cologne.

“Glad you like it.” He started toward the door, stopped, and walked back to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and kissed me quickly. “Thanks, Jo. I’ll be right back.”

The door banged shut. I hadn’t noticed it in the bookstore. His lips were cold.

? ? ?

He wasn’t right back. Hours passed. I read magazines, dusted the piano, and then finally wandered upstairs to check on Charlie. I paused at the closed door of Patrick’s bedroom, resisting the urge to go in and peek around. Instead, I went into Charlie’s room. He was sleeping, a sheet pulled neatly over him. The room was clean and orderly. Medicine bottles lined the top of his dresser next to a sheet of instructions from Randolph. I opened the window a crack near the desk to get a bit of air circulating. The piece of paper was still in the typewriter. I did a double take. There was another letter.





BL


I sat on the edge of Charlie’s bed. The pale skin around his wounds was stained blood orange from Mercurochrome. I pulled back the sheet slightly. Charlie was hugging the pink Valentine box. His color was weak, and his gray hair still shaggy.

“Oh, Charlie,” I whispered, “what’s happened to you? I just wanted to give you a haircut. I’m so sorry.”

His eyes flickered open and locked on me. And for the briefest moment, he smiled. It was the same smile he gave me when I was eight years old hiding in his bookshop, the smile he gave through the front window when I was outside sweeping the sidewalk. It was the smile that said, “You’re a good girl, Josie.”

I brushed the wisps of hair from his eyes. “I love you, Charlie Marlowe. Do you hear me? We’re gonna figure this out.” But he was already back to sleep.

I woke to the smell of coffee. A blanket was tucked around my shoulders on the couch. The curtains in the living room glowed a pale shade of peach. The sun was coming up. I made my way into the kitchen. Patrick stood at the counter, still in his blazer and tie.

“Did I wake you?” he said.

“I can’t believe I fell asleep. Is Charlie okay?”

“He’s fine. Sorry, I was later than I expected.” Patrick hadn’t been to bed but didn’t look tired.

“Fun party?”

“Yeah, but I was the music monkey. They had me playing piano all night long. I’ve played enough jazz to last a lifetime.” Patrick turned and smiled. “Jo, guess who was at the party.”

“Who?”

“Capote.”

“Truman Capote? Did you tell him you loved his book, and you’ve been selling it like crazy at the shop?”