Hannah was leaving town just in time. If all went well, by this afternoon she would be in another city, checked into a hotel under a different name. She might even persuade Guy to take a nap, and catch a little shut-eye herself.
Guy woke up at seven-fifteen. He had no fever, and not even a remnant of chicken pox on him. He was brushing his teeth when Ben left to pick up Joyce.
Hannah stood in the bathroom doorway and watched him on his tiptoes at the sink. He wore a plaid robe over his pajamas.
“Honey, we’re going on a trip today,” she said, folding her arms. “It’ll be fun, kind of an adventure.”
“Is Ben coming too?” Guy asked, his mouth full of Colgate.
“No, honey. Ben has to stay here and work. It’ll just be you and me.”
Hannah watched him overfill the bathroom tumbler with water and rinse out his mouth. Some of it got down the front of his robe and on the bathroom floor. Hannah took a hand towel and wiped him off. “Now, we’ll be in a taxicab for a while today,” she explained, crouched down in front of him. “So I want you to tell me if you’re feeling tired or sick or anything. Okay?”
He rubbed his eye. “Okay, Mom.”
“Joyce is coming over in a couple of minutes, and I think you’re well enough to give her a big hug. Make it a great big one, because you won’t be seeing her for a while.”
Guy was still in his pajamas and robe, sitting at the kitchen counter and eating his Capt’n Crunch, when Ben returned with Joyce. She made a fuss over the fact that Guy was out of bed and looking well again. Then she noticed the suitcases in the hallway. “What’s this?” she asked. “Is somebody going on a trip?”
“C’mon, Guy,” Ben cut in. “I’ll help you get dressed.”
Hannah waited until Ben took Guy back into his room. “Actually, Guy and I are taking off for a couple of weeks,” she explained, pouring herself more coffee. “Some friends of mine in Yakima wanted us to come visit —”
“Well, do you think it’s okay for him to travel, honey?” Joyce asked, setting her purse on the counter.
“The doctor said Guy should be all right as long as he takes it easy. What do you think, Joyce? I mean, you’ve had kids with chicken pox. He looks pretty healthy now, doesn’t he?”
“I suppose he’ll be okay,” she muttered, obviously confused. “Isn’t this all rather sudden?”
“Yeah, it’s been crazy,” Hannah said, walking around the counter. She retrieved a large box she’d loaded and set beside the suitcases in the hallway. “I was cleaning all night. I do that before taking a trip. Anyway, I want you to have these things, sort of a thank-you for working overtime this week.” Hannah placed the box on the sofa.
Mystified, Joyce started to shift through the items, which included, among other things, a quilted blanket she adored and always pulled out on cold nights, a framed photo of Guy, Hannah’s tea kettle, and a Waterford vase she clearly coveted.
“I can’t take any of this,” Joyce said, her eyes welling up. “Honey, I’ve told you before, this is Waterford. It’s worth at least three hundred dollars.”
“And I’ve told you, I got the vase for twenty at a flea market. I know you like it, Joyce. Make me happy and take it, okay?”
“Oh, I couldn’t, I just couldn’t.”
“Well, force yourself,” Hannah said, setting the vase back in the box.
Joyce stopped to glance around the living room. “Where are all the family pictures?” she asked.
“Oh, I—put them away,” Hannah answered. “I didn’t want them to get sun-faded.”
Joyce studied her for a moment with her sharp, old eyes. “You’re not coming back, are you?” she whispered. “You’re on the run again. You have to move on.”
Hannah numbly stared back at her. “What—what are you talking about?”
Joyce smiled sadly. “I’ve been taking care of Guy for nearly two years, honey. I pretty much had it figured out the first week. You’re in some kind of trouble, aren’t you?”
Hannah couldn’t say anything.
Joyce put a hand on her cheek. “It’s none of my business what it’s about. I know you couldn’t have done anything really bad.” Her eyes were tearing up again, and she let out a sad laugh. “Y’know, I’ve always been afraid you’d suddenly have to leave—for whatever reason. Oh, shoot. This sure crept up on me pretty fast. Well, I’m glad you gave me a chance to say good-bye, sweetie.”
Hannah didn’t try to deny it or argue with her. She just hugged Joyce, and whispered, “I’ll miss you.”
Ben and Guy reemerged from the bedroom. Guy was dressed in jeans and a rugby shirt. He didn’t seem to understand why Joyce was crying. But at Hannah’s urging, he gave her a hug and a kiss.
Carrying the box of keepsakes, Ben left with Joyce to escort her home.
Hannah switched on the TV for Guy. Then she retreated down the hallway to the bathroom. She closed the door, sat down on the edge of the tub, and cried.
The three of them took a cab to the bank. Hannah had a little over fourteen hundred saved up. She didn’t expect to run into any trouble closing the account, but the teller had to check with the manager about something. Hannah waited, and nervously tapped her fingers on the countertop.
Ben was supposed to stay in the taxi with Guy. But after a minute, the two of them walked in and went up to one of the other teller windows. Holding Ben’s hand, Guy waved excitedly at her. Smiling, Hannah waved back at him. The two of them looked like father and son.
She continued to wait, and began to wonder why it was taking so long. Had they discovered that her driver’s license was a fake? It had never stopped them before. Then again, she’d never emptied out an account with them before. What if they were calling the police on her?
Finally, the teller returned to her window. He made her sign something to close the account, then counted out her money.
Ben finished up at his window a minute later, and they started back to the parking lot, where the taxi was waiting for them. Guy was happy because the teller had given him a lollipop.
“Well, I’m set for the week now,” Ben said, as they started toward the taxi. “How much did you get?”
“Fourteen hundred and change,” Hannah murmured. She rolled her eyes. “Kind of kills my plans to spend tonight in a suite at the Four Seasons.”
Later, as the taxi turned down her block, Hannah almost expected to see police cars in front of her apartment building. But there were none.
Ben paid the driver and asked him to wait. He carried Guy piggyback up the three flights of stairs. Guy ran inside ahead of them. Ben stopped her in the doorway. “Don’t forget,” he whispered, taking hold of her arm. “I really need you to call and let me know you’re okay.”
She nodded. “I will, I promise.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. “Here,” he said, handing it to her. “It’s two thousand. I wish it were more. And don’t give me a goddamn argument, because you and I both know you need it.”
Hannah took the money and slipped it into her purse. She let out a cry and tried to turn it into a laugh. “Why couldn’t I have met you five years ago?” she said, her voice cracking.
“Because I was busy getting married,” he said.
“So was I,” Hannah whispered. Then she kissed him.
For a moment, they held each other in the doorway. Hannah didn’t want to let go.
“The taxicab’s waiting,” Ben said, finally.
Guy came from his room. “Ben, do the ex-a-sketch with me!” he cried.
“Well, why don’t you get started on a picture, then show me?” he said, stepping into the apartment. “You and your mom have to leave pretty soon.”
Guy perched on the sofa, set the Etch A Sketch on his lap, and furiously started working the dials.
Hannah took one long, last look at the living room, and she fought the tightness in her throat.
“If you leave a message at the Best Western for me,” Ben whispered, “don’t forget to give the name you’re registering under at your hotel. If you think someone’s been following you, I’ll come out there and stay with you and
