“What is it?” Jack asked. “You too drunk to drive?”
“No, I had my last beer over an hour ago. It’s just that it dawned on me...I can’t go home tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m supposed to be out of town ... on a romantic overnight trip with Ben.” She had to stop tolaugh. “I know it sounds crazy, but what if I went back to the house and one of my nosy sisters-in-lawdrove by and saw the lights on? They’d know something was up.”
“Hmm,” Jack said. “You lead a complicated life, don’t you, lady?”
“Far too complicated.” Lily felt as though she might cry again.
“I’ll tell you what. Spend the night at my place tonight. I’ve got an extra bedroom.”
“I told Ben to call me here if he needed me.”
“Hang on a second. I’ll take care of that.” Jack disappeared behind the shop, and Lily heard herholler, “If anybody calls here for Lily, give ‘em my number. She’s going home with me.” There was apause, and then Jack hollered, “Not that way, you hussies!”
CHAPTER 14
Jack lived in an old white saltbox with a tin roof. Even in the darkness, Lily could tell that the landaround it was rolling and beautiful. The sky above the farmland was sprinkled with stars.
“It’s beautiful out here,” Lily said, as they stood on the porch.
“Oh, yeah.” Jack unlocked the front door. “There’s the stars on a clear night, and on a cloudynight, there’s nothin’ like the sound of the rain on the roof.” The house seemed to be furnished with thesame pieces Jack had grown up with. The flowered up-holstery on the arms and seat of the overstuffedsofa in the living room was shiny from years of sitting, but the worn appearance of the furniture onlymade it more inviting.
“Your room’s upstairs,” Jack said, her boots clomping on the hardwood floor. “Sorry for goingright off to bed, but if I get a farm call, I’ll have to roll out in four hours or so.”
“That’s fine. I’m pretty tired.” Lily followed Jack up the stairs, noting in a purely clinical fashionthat Jack filled out her Levi’s attractively.
Jack flipped on the light in the room at the head of the stairs — a small bedroom with floralwallpaper and an iron bed covered in a handmade quilt. A black-and-white cat who was curled up on thebed lifted his head and squinted at them irritably. “That’s Hank,” Jack explained. “This is kinda his bed,so he may want to share it with you. I’ve got two house cats, Hank here and Patsy, who sleeps with me.”She smiled, a little shyly, Lily thought. “Well, you make yourself comfortable. The bathroom’s next door,and there’s towels in the hall closet if you need ’em.”