Very big bucks for a one-man project that was basically a rehash.
I was curious about what it took to impress the folks at Ferris Dixon.
But it was Sunday and even those with deep pockets rested.
I returned home, changed into soft clothes, and puttered, pretending the fact that it was the weekend meant something to me. At six o'clock, no longer able to fake it, I called theJones house. As the phone rang, the front door opened and Robin stepped in. She waved, stopped in the kitchen to kiss my cheek, then kept going toward the bedroom.
Just as she disappeared from view Cindy's voice came on the line.
'Hello.'
'Hi. It's Alex Delaware.'
'Oh, hi. How are you, Dr. Delaware?'
'Fine. And you?'
'Oh... pretty good.' She sounded edgy.
'Something the matter, Cindy?'
'No... Um, could you hold for just one second?'
She covered the receiver and the next time I heard her voice it was muffled and her words were unintelligible. But I made out another voice answering-from the low tones, Chip.
'Sorry,' she said. 'We're just getting settled. I thought I heard Cassie she's taking a nap.'
Definitely edgy.
'Tired from the ride?' I said.
'Um... that and just getting readjusted. She had a great big dinner, plus dessert, then just dropped off. I'm across the hall from her right now. Keeping my ears open... you know.'
'Sure,' I said.
'I keep her door open to our bathroom-it connects to our room-and a night light on inside. So I can look in on her regularly.'
'How do you get any sleep that way?'
'Oh, I manage. If I'm tired, I nap when she does. Being together so much, we've kind of gotten on to the same schedule.'
'Do you and Chip ever take shifts?'
'No, I couldn't do that-his course load's really heavy this semester.
Are you coming out to visit us, soon?'
'How about tomorrow?'
'Tomorrow? Sure. Um... how about in the afternoonaround four?'
Thinking of the 505 freeway snarl, I said, 'Would earlier be possible?'
'Um, okay three-thirty?'
'I was thinking even earlier, Cindy, like two?'
'Oh, sure... I've got some things to do-would two-thirty be okay?'
'Fine.'
