I sat there another minute, trying to figure out how a shower would work. I couldn’t put the bandage on my chest myself because my broken arm gave me shitty dexterity.
But May just walked into the room and sat down on the narrow strip of couch beside me. “Lift up your shirt,” she said. One-handed, I managed to raise my tee over the bandage.
She picked at the tape and gauze on my torso. There were two new battle scars on my body—one on the left side a few inches under my heart, and one down the middle. “The incision is looking so much better,” she said, wadding up the old bandage and setting it on the floor.
I peered down, agreeing with her. The weird thing was that I didn’t remember her seeing it before. The past couple of days were a blur.
May put the waterproof bandage on me and then stood up. “I’ll start the downstairs shower.”
“Where is everyone?” I asked, following her. The house was so quiet.
“They went to the movies in Montpelier. It’s half-price ticket day.”
“It’s Tuesday? Jesus.”
May laughed. “True story.”
She started the shower for me then left the room. I got undressed clumsily then stepped under the spray, holding my arm outside of the curtain. My shoulder began to ache immediately from the awkward angle.
“Doing okay?” she called.
“Yeah. Except…”
“What?” her voice came closer.
“Can I hand you the shampoo to pour in my hand?”
“Sure. Give it here, clumsy.”
“Isn’t this more fun than the movies?” I asked while she squeezed shampoo into my left palm.
“They were seeing The Revenant,” she said. “I don’t want to watch anyone get mauled by a bear.”
“No spoilers,” I complained, rubbing the shampoo everywhere I could reach.
May laughed. “Wash your hair. I’m going to make some coffee. Just leave the water running when you’re done and call me. Towels are waiting out here.”
“Thanks,” I said for the hundredth time.
“De nada.” She disappeared.
I did my thing, my broken arm drooping more and more as I got tired. But the water felt so fucking good.
The bathroom door opened again. Then a gentle hand cupped my elbow, supporting my arm. That felt better. “Thanks,” I mumbled, trying to rinse off. “I’ll just be another second.” In spite of May’s instructions, I fumbled the faucet off with my left hand.
Since I was dripping wet and naked, it startled me to hear the shower curtain begin to slide open. But then I was even more startled to find Sophie was the one who’d opened it. “Hi,” she said shyly.
“Hi.” I just stared at her pretty face, drinking her in.
“You didn’t call me,” she said, picking up a towel. But her eyes twinkled.
“Uh, I’ve been…”
“Asleep for three days,” she said, breaking into a smile. “I know. I’m just teasing you. May told me you’ve practically been Rip Van Winkle. How do you feel?”
“Better,” I said, realizing it was true.
Sophie pressed the towel against one side of my face and then the other. “I missed you.” She put one hand on my naked hip and then kissed my chin.
Damn. Her soft lips on my skin felt amazing. She wrapped the towel around my wet body and then pulled me into a hug. “Mmm.” I pulled her closer and took a deep breath of her apple-scented hair. Sophie. We stood there for a while, just holding each other.
Then, with a sigh, Sophie began to dry me off. And I let her. She ran the towel over my chest, and then I turned around so she could reach my back. Her hands lingered on my ass, and she pressed a kiss to my back. “Come out of there so I can dry your hair.”
I stepped carefully out of the bathtub and wrapped the towel around my waist. I couldn’t tie it one-handed, so I just held it closed. Sophie grabbed another and toweled off my hair, then finger-combed it. I stood there and let her fuss over me. There were big problems between us and too many things that still had to be said. But for those ten minutes I refused to worry about it.
“I brought you some clothes,” she said.
“You did? From where?”
“From your room. Your father gave me the key. They’re in the TV room.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder.
“Seriously?” I was trying to picture Sophie and my father having a conversation.
“Yeah. I mean—he had all the paint protection garb on, so he couldn’t hand it to me himself. But he told me exactly where to find it on the hook in his kitchen.”
“He was painting…a car?”
She gave me a quizzical look. “Of course a car. A Prius. Lime green with a white section on the door. Looked great.”
Wow. I never would have believed my father would have the resolve to step in and finish that job.
Back in the TV room, I found that May had changed the sheets on the couch. There was also a note on the pillow. I’m doing some reading up in my room. Holler if you need anything.
Seemed like May had made herself scarce.