in her suggestion. “That would be very helpful. Where can we find this information?”
As they spoke, her eyes lingered on his features. He was so dear to her. So familiar. In her flights of fancy, Reno would always fall at her feet the first moment he laid eyes on her. As captivated by her as she was by him. Now, she realized her fantasies were childish. He might not be from this century, but this was a real man with real-life problems and goals. He didn’t know her, not even as well as she knew him. Journey didn’t like to admit that the tales might have been embellished. No one liked to speak ill of the dead. Sometimes the actions of a loved one who is passed are recounted in the most glowing of terms. To top it off, there was no real emotional connection between them. What she wanted and fantasized wasn’t really a factor when faced with reality.
So be it.
In an odd way, Journey felt as if she might have grown a little bit in the last little while. She still wanted to help him, there was no doubt about it. Maybe in doing so, she could bring some type of closure to her own issues. Maybe when this was over, however it turned out, she could move on with her own life and leave the past behind.
“I’ll gather all the information we have here. I’ll also ask Aunt Myra what Uncle Myles may have in storage. We can also visit libraries and museum. The University of Texas has a huge collection of historical documents. Plus, there’s always the internet.” At his puzzled expression, she tried to explain briefly. “This is the computer age. I’ll get out my laptop tomorrow and explain this to you. Basically, every computer in the world can have access to anything a user has made available – that’s books, papers, documents, dissertations, research – you name it, it’s out there. If you’ve ever visited a library in a big city, just imagine if every word in every book was at your fingertips. Then, imagine if it just wasn’t that library, but every library in the world. All of the information was at your fingertips.”
Reno’s eyes glazed over a bit. “That sounds impossible.”
“Yes.” She nodded, the smile on her lips not reaching her eyes. “I imagine it does. But after everything we’ve experienced, who’s to say what is possible? Do you want some more?” she offered, pointing at the glass pitcher on the bar.
He shook his head no.
“Well, there are things to be done.” She quickly rinsed the dishes and put them in the washer. When she saw him staring at the appliance, Journey took the time to explain it to him. “This is called a dishwasher. You put the dishes in, add a detergent pod.” She held one out. “Put it right here. Press the cycle button and shut the door. In a half hour or so, the dishes are clean and sanitized.”
Reno watched carefully, coming nearer to examine the buttons. “They aren’t even raised.”
“Touch-screen is what it’s called.” He was standing so near, she trembled. Backing quickly away, she put some distance between them. “Why don’t I introduce you to the remote control and you can watch a movie while I change the bed linens and locate the journal. When you retire, place your clothes outside the door and I’ll wash them for you.”
Reno could sense a difference between them. Her tone was very kind, but a little distant. He didn’t particularly care for this development, but he had no one to blame but himself. “Thank you.” He followed her to the living room, then was mesmerized by what she called a ‘remote’. After she left him alone, he couldn’t settle on one particular program. Instead, he kept pressing the button over and over again, changing what she called a ‘channel’ again and again.
From two rooms down, Journey searched through Myra’s desk for Saul’s journal. She usually kept it in the bottom righthand drawer. “Ah, there it is.” As she placed it on top of the desk and stood up, she couldn’t keep from glancing across the way to check on Reno. “Look at that. He can’t settle on anything to watch. He’s a normal guy, after all.” Taking the journal with her, she placed it on the bar while she went to make his bed.
After she changed the sheets, she tidied the bathroom, and laid out fresh towels. She tried to