let him hold it. I felt less safe. “But if I spot Cujo”—I pointed at my chest—“the pipe goes to you know who.”
We tried Marie’s front door, but there was no answer. We went around to the back, and I banged on the storm door. I wanted to surprise her, so I kept Roy out of sight, off to the side. A light went on in the kitchen. Marie answered the door wearing a pink terry-cloth bathrobe. She didn’t look too good. She was either hungover or had just gotten out of bed, or both.
“Hey,” I said through the screen.
“I thought you couldn’t work today.”
“I can’t.”
She was confused. “Well, then . . .” She rubbed her eyes and scratched her head. “What are you doing here? ”
“Did you just wake up? ”
“Mmyeah, about three seconds ago.”
“Sorry.”
“I couldn’t get to sleep, so I took a sleeping pill at around four.”
“Oh, man. Should we leave? ”
“Who’s we? ”
“Roy and me.” I pulled Roy into view.
Marie perked right up. “No, you shouldn’t go. You should come in.” I carried Roy into the kitchen. “Hey there, Roy. It’s good to see you again.” Marie extended her hand for him to shake. He was cautious.
“It’s okay, kid. Marie’s our friend. Look.” I shook her hand.
“Yeah, Roy, friends.” She kissed me on the cheek.
“See,” I said. “Marie is a friend.”
“Can I give Roy a kiss? ” Marie asked Roy. She leaned in and kissed him. He smiled. “Look at that smile. What beautiful teeth you have. Would you like a drink of milk? ” Roy reached for the refrigerator. “You want something in the fridge? ” Marie held out her arms for Roy to come to her. “Can I hold him? ”
“If he’ll let you, be my guest.” I passed Roy to Marie, and he went without a fight. She wore him on her hip and went to the fridge.
“Let’s see what we have in here for you, Roy.” They disappeared behind the open door. Light poured out onto the beige linoleum. Roy made a noise like he was struggling to reach something. “What is it? ” Marie asked. “You want ketchup? No? An egg? ” That was it. “Oh, Roy wants an egg.” Marie’s head appeared over the door. “Can Roy have an egg? ”
“I don’t see why not.”
“That’s great news, Roy. Let’s get you out of your coat and boots, and Marie will make you an egg, okay? ” She set Roy on the floor and unbuttoned his coat. She gasped when she saw Sidney’s sweater on him. She put her hand on her mouth, then stood up so that she could take all of him in.
“Oh, my God. And the pants, too.” She started to cry.
I felt like a heel. “I thought you wanted to see them on him,” I said. I tried to close Roy’s coat. Marie stopped me.
“No, don’t,” she said. “I do want to see them. It’s just a shock.” She picked Roy up and squeezed him. She ran her hands over the sweater and pants.
“You sure? ”
“Yes.” She smiled at me, then kissed Roy’s face. She pressed his head against her chest and rested her chin on the top of his head. “Thank you,” she said. “Both of you.”
Roy ate his scrambled egg with ketchup and toast off a green plastic plate decorated with an action scene from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. Marie and I split an omelet with blue cheese and tomato. We sat at her small kitchen table.
“It’s nice not to be eating in a restaurant,” I said.
Marie gave my coffee a warmer. “Not much of a cook? ”
“I’d like to be, but I never found the time.” Never found time? I didn’t really know the reason why I’d never learned to cook, but it sure as fuck wasn’t because of a lack of time.
“I was a pretty okay cook,” Marie said. “I just haven’t felt like it.”
I impaled a chunk of omelet with my fork and raised it. “I’d say you’re still a pretty okay cook.”
“It’s just an omelet.”
“Well, it’s a good one.”
“Thanks. Watching someone enjoy is half the fun of cooking.”
“FYI, I’m enjoying this.” I chewed and watched her watch me. “Is it still fun? ”
She smiled. “It’s not bad.”
I turned to Roy. “What about you? You having fun, Roy? His Roy-al Highness? Little Lord Fauntle-Roy? ” I messed up his hair.
“You should never disturb a man when he’s eating,” Marie said.
“So true.” We watched him eat.
“Have you ever had an aged sirloin?