| Uncertain, he asks the duvet with the mop of
dark hair, "Are you all
right?" The answer comes from somewhere in the pillow. "Yes." "I've never heard you say you don't want another drink before. It was... weird." A small smile in the otherwise miserable voice. "It won't happen often, I promise." "Good." Nervous without knowing why. "I'm sorry about Emma." "Why?" "It's a nasty thing, what she did. It's cruel. You didn't deserve that." Silence. He moves further into the darkness of the room, perches on the edge of the mattress. "Where's Rowena?" No mocking in the name this time. Just... sadness. "Gone." "Why?" "Because." "Will she be back?" "No. I don't think so." "I'm sorry." "Don't be. I didn't want her to stay." The duvet is turned down slowly, he can see blinking eyes looking up at him. "Why not?" "Because she doesn't fit here. No one does except the three of us. Maybe there's room for someone for Fran, but not for me. Not for you." The head nods once, understanding, and a small voice asks, "Do you want to stay?" "Yes, please." The whole bed moves with Bernard as he shuffles back to make room and lifts the duvet for Manny to join him. For a moment they lie face to face in the dark. Then Bernard bounces onto his other side and settles back when an arm snakes comfortably around him. This is how it has to be. Just them. Just as it's always been. |