linxy - part XIV
Henry calls the next day. "Bad news, Linxy."
I sit on the floor in the kitchen and pinch the webbing between thumb and forefinger.
It staves off the headache. "What’s that mean?"
"I’ve been called out of town. I have to go see
my agent in New York and deal with some copyright infringement. I won’t
be able to get Olivia on Monday."
"You know, I’m supposed to go to Boston this weekend."
"Life’s rough. That’s why we pay you the
big bucks, though, right?" I nod to the receiver and simultaneously give
him the finger.
"The big bucks? Check must be lost in the mail, eh."
"Good one, Dean Martin. I just thought it would be
nice to give you a heads up."
"How long, pal?"
"I don’t know. A week? I’ll call you from
New York."
"A week." A week. A week requires grocery shopping
and certainly something else for her to wear and more baths and more…time
alone in a room with her after I promised she’d remain unscathed. Dammit.
A week. "Call me when you get there, and tell me for sure. And try to make
it less than a week, for everybody’s good." I hang up on him, one
of the ways I can pretend I’m on top.
"Great news, Olli, you get to stay here a little longer."
She sits up in bed and cracks her neck to one side.
"What?"
"Henry got called out of town. I get to cancel my vacation
and babysit you. Don’t think I’m not thrilled."
She doesn’t say anything, just readjusts her chain
and clears her throat. "Do I have to stay in this room?" She finally
asks.
"Yes. Everything is the same. No upgrades." She nods. "I’ll get you something else to wear I guess. That nightgown has to be a bore."
There’s a moment of silence again as she examines her
nightgown for boredom. "His name is Henry?"
I lightly punch the wall. She’s not supposed to know
things like that. At least not from me. She’s really not supposed to know
anything from me. I’ve talked to her too much already.
"Don’t you dare tell him you know that. Olivia.
Please. If you ever do anything for me, or for yourself, don’t."
She nods instantly. "I won’t," she whispers, but then she says his name out loud again.