Shahla pulled up her shorts and pointed to a bruise on her upper thigh. But when that didn’t uncover all of it, she impatiently pulled her shorts down. She was wearing a bikini bottom underneath. Tony forced himself to concentrate on the colors of the ugly blotch, ranging from red to black and blue, like a poorly executed abstract painting.
“How did you get that?”
“When I was trying to get away from him, I hit a parked car. That’s when I hurt my hands.”
“I have some disinfectant for the cuts,” he said. “But I don’t know what we can do about the bruise. Do you want to put ice on it?”
“No. It will be okay as long as nothing touches it. May I take a shower now? I’ll wash it off.”
Tony gave Shahla towels and a washcloth and made up the spare bed while she was in the shower. He felt like a housewife. He was glad he had a cleaning lady who came on a regular basis so that the house wasn’t too dirty. He also found a first aid kit.
He had an urge to open the bathroom door and ask her if she needed her back washed, but he was the parent here, and he couldn’t do that.
He was in the spare bedroom when Shahla poked her head out of the bathroom door and yelled, “Do you have a T-shirt I can wear?”
He had forgotten about nightclothes for her. He limped down to his bedroom, passing her on the way and came back with a T-shirt. She reached out a bare arm and took it from him, then closed the door. Tony retreated to his bedroom so she would have a clear path to her room when she came out.
However, several minutes later she appeared in his doorway and said, “I borrowed your comb. Do you have an extra toothbrush?”
The T-shirt was long enough on her so it served as a mini-dress. Tony said, “My dental technician always gives me a toothbrush when I get my teeth cleaned. I think I have a couple of extras.”
He went into the bathroom and saw her clothes sitting on the toilet seat. He said, “I have a washer and dryer. I’ll wash your clothes for you.”
“I see this is a full-service hotel,” Shahla said, really smiling for the first time since she had shown up at his doorstep.
“Do you want the swimsuit washed?”
“If you don’t mind. That’s my underwear until I go home.”
Tony took her clothes downstairs and put them in his washing machine. The washer and dryer were located in a small utility room off the kitchen. When he came back five minutes later, Shahla had gone into her bedroom but left the door open. He waited until the wash cycle ended and placed the clothes in the dryer. Then he went to bed. It had been an exhausting day. And his knee hurt.
He was trying to settle himself down to sleep when he felt, rather than heard or saw, something in his doorway. He turned his head and barely saw Shahla’s silhouette against the dark background of the hallway.
“I don’t want to sleep in there alone,” she said. “It’s too dark with the light out. I’m afraid.”
“Do you want a nightlight?” Tony asked.
“No, I want to sleep in your bed.”
“You mean, you want to trade beds?”
“No.”
“That’s not a good idea. I’m just down the hall from you. You can call if you need me.”
“The stairs are between us. He might…come up the stairs.
“The police are watching the house.” Tony was getting a little perturbed. He needed a good night’s sleep. He said, “I guess I could sleep on the couch downstairs.”
“No, I want you nearby. Stay in the bed. I won’t take up much room.”
Shahla lay down on the bed beside him and pulled the sheet and light blanket over her. She lay on her side, facing away from him. He normally slept in his briefs and a T-shirt. Sometimes he took the briefs off if they were too constricting. Fortunately, he hadn’t done that tonight. It was an old-fashioned double bed, not queen or king-size. There was no extra room. Tony turned his back to her and found himself on the edge of the bed.
“After my father was killed, I sometimes slept with my mom, and we would cuddle together like spoons,” Shahla said.
It was clear what she wanted him to do. He turned over and carefully arranged his body so that, although they were touching, it didn’t go beyond that. He tentatively placed his arm over her. She snuggled against him and then lay still. He felt tense and wondered how long he could stay like this. He would never fall asleep. At least not for a long…
CHAPTER 34
When he awoke, Tony was facing his window, which faced toward the east. And the rising sun. Which had already risen. There was something wrong with this. Oh yes, it was a workday, and he hadn’t set the alarm. He was late already. He carefully got out of bed, trying not to disturb Shahla. It had been a while since he had slept with a woman. What was the proper etiquette? Let her wake up at her own speed.
Shahla was curled up in roughly the same position in which she had gone to sleep. She had let out a muffled scream several times during the night. Her legs had twitched, as though she were running. Tony had patted her back and said soothing words, trying to calm her. She hadn’t woken up, and each time she had quieted down after a few seconds.
Tony went to the bathroom and attempted to bring some coherence to his thoughts. Today was Monday. Monday was a workday. And a school day. But was Shahla in any shape to go to school? She was probably all right physically, but emotionally? And was it safe for her to go to school, with the kidnapper on the loose? He had acted boldly, but in a risky manner. He wanted her badly. He might try to snatch her again.
Tony put on a pair of shorts and went downstairs. While he made coffee, he wondered whether he should take a vacation day in order to stay with Shahla. Or he could just call in sick. But he didn’t like to lie.
Rasa had gone to her sister’s house for comfort and support. She had said she was returning to Bonita Beach today, but she might not be here until noon or later. She apparently wasn’t going to work, and Shahla’s brother, Kirk, wasn’t going to school.
Tony was making himself toast when Shahla appeared, still wearing his T-shirt. Her hair was uncombed, and her eyes were a little bleary. She looked vulnerable, but sweet. And although her mood was subdued, she didn’t seem to be depressed or scared.
“Your clothes are in the dryer,” Tony said. He went the few steps to the utility room and pulled them out of that machine. He handed them to Shahla.
“Thank you.” She laid them on a chair, then took the bikini bottom, stepped into the leg holes, and pulled it up. She did the same with the shorts.
There was something intimate about watching a woman get dressed. “How do you feel?” he asked.
“I’ll be all right. My thigh hurts, my hands hurt, and a few other places hurt, but I’ll be fine.”
“Would you like some toast? I’ve got strawberry jam.”
“That would be wonderful. I’m starving.”
Tony poured orange juice for her to go with the toast. Realizing how hungry she was, he also made eggs and bacon. She ate everything.
After she had satisfied her appetite, her mood improved dramatically. She kidded Tony about his cooking skills, saying that he could get a job as a short-order cook.
Tony was glad to see a spark of the old Shahla. He said, “What do you think about going to school? I could drive you to your house to get some clothes and books.”
“The kidnapper probably knows what school I go to. He knew where I lived.” She hesitated. “I’m not up to school today. And won’t the kids have found out about me?”
Tony smacked his head with his hand. “We haven’t looked at the news.” He started toward the living room and then said, “Oh, I forgot, I don’t have a television set anymore. But I have a radio.”
The combination radio-CD player was in the living room. Tony turned on the radio and found a news station.
