Page 15

Jen added, “After a revolution, we overthrew the King of England.”

He nodded, “Well done.”

I said, “Except he was also the king of Scotland at the time, the whole place.”

Torin scowled. “Nae, that canna be possible, we would never stand for it.”

Jen started to answer, but I shook my head so instead she said, “Maybe I’m remembering my history wrong, but... the US has been our own country for over two hundred years now.”

I said, “It’s called the United States of America, and you are in one of the states, North Carolina.”

“How far is it tae get tae Scotland?”

“If you fly by airplane , like I told you about earlier, it’s a six hour flight, I think.” I drew my finger across the blue of the Atlantic Ocean.

“Och, over the ocean? Ye would fly it, nae by boat?”

Jen and I shook our heads.

He grew very quiet and finished his beer in one chug and put the bottle down.

Jen asked, “Want another beer?”

“Nae, I think I need m’head about me in case there are… troubles.” He closed the cover on the atlas and pushed it away.

I said, “We should go up to the house then, the… time is, wow, 11:45. Yep, time for bed.”

I saw his eyes focus on my watch, his brow drawn down. He chewed his lip.

Jen and I stood up.

He stood up and bowed. “Mistress Lexi, Mistress Jen, I will walk ye tae yer door.”

I said, “You remember how to turn off the lights?”

He looked around as if he didn’t quite remember, so I said, “I’ll click this one off.”

He said, “Aye, good, I will likely stand guard outside. I winna need the light.”

“Do you need some food before you go in the morning?”

“Nae, I winna bother ye, I will be gone before dawn.”

We trudged up the hill and he remained quiet as we walked. Until he asked, “What is that sound?”

“The hum? That’s the cicadas, grasshoppers, and katydids. Insects. In the spring and summer they really like to make a racket.”

He tugged on his earlobe as we continued striding.

At the porch he stiffly bowed.

“Good night, Torin.”

“G’night, Mistress Lexi.”

He waited until the door was locked.

Then from the window we watched him trudge down the long slope of the lawn.

I turned to Jen with my eyes wide. “I’m so glad you’re here, you would never have believed me.”

“I still don’t believe you, girlfriend, not really, but that is… I mean, what’s the other explanation?”

I grabbed the bottle of wine and poured two glasses.

We carried them to the living room, stopping by the stereo to turn on some music and then sitting on the ends of the couch facing each other.

She said, “Here’s some ideas: he could be lying, he could be joking, maybe he’s just cosplaying. Maybe it’s some kind of dare from a fraternity brother. An audition…”

I said, “Sure, but to what end, why ?”

She shrugged and sipped her wine. “I have no idea, it makes no sense.”

I said, “I can’t come up with any reasons he would be lying and he just seems like, so truthful. Even Daniel Day-Lewis couldn’t method act this well.”

I got comfortable, tucking my feet up under me, lying against the pillows with the wineglass tucked under my chin.

She giggled, mirroring me. “You look like a lush.”

“You too.”

She said, “What are you going to tell Cooper about this guy? It’s awkward, ‘hey, honey, that huge mysterious, armed, likely criminal guy is sleeping in my love shack.’ I don’t think Cooper’s going to be down with that.”

“Yeah, he’s going to flip out, but… Torin will be gone tomorrow. Cooper won’t even meet him.”

“You would lie to Cooper — are you expecting me to lie too?”

“First, no, I wouldn’t lie, I can just casually mention it.

After the fact it will be a lot less drastic.

‘Oh by the way, Cooper, that man who was in our yard stayed in the back-shack because he was injured and had nowhere else to go. Don’t worry, I was totally safe, and it’s all clean.

He won’t be back.’ Second of all, of course I need you to back me up, whose side are you on? ”

“Your side, though Coop and I have been friends longer, you’re by far my favorite.” She sighed, overly dramatically, the edge of her mouth going up. “But you know, I never lie on principle, especially to my dear old friend, Cooper.”

“You do too, just the other day you lied to him about your credit card debt — you did not pay it off, you borrowed money from me.”

“Because he was lecturing me! Why does he get to lecture me?”

“Because you’ve been friends, he’s trying to help.”

She pouted. “Fine, but please don’t use that against me. I will pay you back.”

“I don’t care if you pay me back, I don’t want you to pay me back. I’m not holding it against you. You were in a bind, you needed help. I’m your best friend. I don’t mind, but yes, you lied and you asked me to lie too.”

“Fine, yes, tell him after the fact, and I will tell Cooper whatever you want — as long as you don’t make me pay you back. Because I do not have the money.”

“You’re a school teacher, I get you, but I will tell him.

Homeboy, out there, will be gone in the morning and Cooper returns the next day.

I will tell him then, after the fact, and he’ll be in a good mood because he’ll have the investors and he won’t care about anything else but starting his business. ”