Chapter 62
Back at the chalet, Keara was infused with new spirit. She ran crazily into the kitchen. “Oscar, Oscar. Look at this!”
The man emerged, stood shakily. He’d been sitting on the floor, his back against the shiny aluminum dishwasher front, and when she looked at his face, it was puffy red.
It was a shock to see him like that. But…
“I’ve got good news!”
His eyes widened, but nothing smart came out of his mouth. Like…
Oh? The chocolate order has been tripled?
The patrons are all outside, bowing, and cheering for me, and can’t wait to see me?
The Food Network is here to crown me for my latest creation and offer me a reality show?
He didn’t even hide the fact he’d been crying, just sniffed. “Oui?”
She shoved the cell in his face. He peered closely, then his eyes popped wide, and his whole face burst into brightness. “He is alive? Ah, oui! The man is alive!”
Suddenly, he had her hands, and they were leaping, jumping, pirouetting in the kitchen like two fools in a crazy dance. “Oui! Oui! Oui!”
A bleary-eyed Edna stuck her head into the kitchen, clad in the elite terrycloth robe. “What’s all the ruckus?”
“Sven sent me a text!”
“What’s going on?” Kelley appeared, in pajama-like long-johns. “What’s all the noise?”
“He sent her a text!”
Immediately, all four of them were holding hands, jumping, in a crazy circle.
“Is this a demented, late-night sort of Ring around the Rosy?” Christian walked in, handsome as always, in a long-sleeved, form-fitting navy t-shirt, and drawstring pajamas. Bare feet.
Close on his heels, Tina appeared.
And then Willow ran in, close on Tina’s heels. Tucked her arm into Christian’s, then Tina’s on the other side. Interestingly, right between the two of them.
“Oh hell. Fine. I’ll join with,” muttered Dante, who’d just come through the swinging doors.
And there the six of them were, acting like lunatics. Jumping up and down together, holding hands.
Just that fast, she was out of breath. Keara let her arms drop, and broke the circle. “Oh gosh. That was great.”
Harold poked in, this time, in an elegant man’s dressing gown, seemingly many times out of their fixed income budget. He didn’t say a word, only raised his brows.
And behind him, in gnarly, once upon a time white, but now grey and somewhat dank through repeated washings and wear, was old man Jones, in long-johns that hugged his bony frame.
It wasn’t a pretty sight.
Now that brought her back down to reality with a bump.
His voice scraped through the 3:30 AM, fluorescent-light hum of the usually deserted at night kitchen. “What the tomfoolery is going on? Is he back, safe and sound, with the beast?”
Their faces fell. “No, ‘Ee’s not back. Not yet,” Oscar said. Then he brightened. “But he sent her a text!”
Old man Jones rolled his eyes. “Well, big whoop. Yay. I’m going back to bed. And keep it down, you screeching tomcats.” He hauled his bony ass out through the swinging doors, and all that was left of him was the swish of those doors as they shuddered to a halt.
“Nothing like a friendly pail of cold water on a frigid night.” Tina shrugged herself out of the circle, but Keara noticed she didn’t let go of Christian’s hand too quickly.
“He’s right, though. He sent it when? About half an hour ago? That’s great, but I hate to tell you, Keara. If that’s when he sent it, and he isn’t here yet, he’s in the roughest stretch right now.” Dante’s mouth was tight, as the others grew quiet.
“There’s still a huge fire in the big fireplace in the lobby, and still some foam and sheets on the floor. Let’s go hang out there together. We can catch some shut-eye together if we want, send our man good energy, while we wait for the next text.” Tina spoke to tired nods of agreement, and they all trooped out of the kitchen.
Keara tugged Tina aside. “I’ve got to go to the back and keep writing. Twelve pages, roughly, to go now.”
“Okay, kid. We’re around if you need us.”
But Keara couldn’t help thinking, as she checked the faces of everyone as they filed out. The worry, the fear. It was back.
And she knew…it was for damn good reason.