The doorbellrang.
John waivedKate into a chair and went to answer it. After a few moments, Roriheard him exchanging words with another man. The conversationappeared to be rather heated.
"...mother... secrets... isn't allowed... trouble..."
Rori's earsburned. Kate was rambling on about the neighbors having problemswith racoons. She replied with vague responses, listening asstealthily as possible to the hissed exchange at the frontdoor.
"...your ownbusiness... my mother... don't like... stuff... angelicass..."
Angelic ass?That couldn't be right.
A white vanwith giant wings painted on the side pulled away from the curb atthe end of the drive. Rori tried to make out the name on the side.HPS?
John strolledback into the kitchen, his smile tight.
"No package?"Rori narrowed her eyes at him.
"Wrongstreet."
He was lyingthrough his perfect, pearly-white teeth.
Chapter 9
John leftJack's room— he was never going to get used to that— with Rori andKate Lynch. He'd nearly called her "mom" three times. This washarder than he'd ever imagined.
Strangely,watching his former body lay in a coma didn't trouble him. Italmost felt like he'd been destined to make the switch. The solidmuscle, even stride, and big limbs enveloping him now felt right,somehow.
He had treatedthe ladies to a simple dinner at a diner across from the hospital.Now he and Rori shared a silent truck cab as he pulled into theHammond Suites parking lot. Not a word had been spoken since theyleft Jack's boyhood home, kisses bussed onto both their cheeks byKate.
Glancing at herout of the corner of his eye, John was relieved to see distractedspeculation on her face. He'd take suspicion over hostility anyday.
"Rori, I'd liketo ask you to do something for Jack."
Surprise. Justas he'd hoped.
"For Jack?"
"I know we havea lot of bad blood between us, and I know I mistreated Jack overthe years. But that was a long time ago. Things have changed, and Iwould like to talk to you about it. Will you have a drink withme?"
Suspicionwarred with curiosity, but the open, earnest face she met won herover. Rori nodded once, and allowed John to open her door, take herelbow, and lead her into the lounge.
Her old palNorman was at the bar again. He threw her a cheerful grin as shenodded to him, and took a seat in a quiet corner with Jack. Theplace was nearly empty.
She pulled offher coat, avoiding John's gaze. Thinking of John Lydon made herfeel as though she were betraying Jack. Yet she had to admit theday she'd spent with him left her utterly conflicted. The John sheknew was an insult to everything Jack stood for. The John she'dspent the day with could have been his brother. Polite, solicitous,even protective— he was nothing like the arrogant boy sheremembered.
Norman appearedat the table.
"Short-staffed?" John's polite demeanor seemed to have fled, atleast for the moment.
"Just metonight. Most of the reunion crowd abandoned us for a nightclubacross town. What can I get you?"
Rori smiledreassuringly. "I'd love a latte. We've already eaten, but do youhave any snacks?" She glanced around, wondering where the usualbowls of pretzels and popcorn had gone.
"Class of '91cleaned us out, but I'm sure I can rustle something up."
John ordered abeer. Norman returned with their drinks, and placed a large bowl ofM&M candies on the table. He gave John a winkas he returned to the bar.
Rori felt theweariness of the weekend settling into her shoulders. She knew shewouldn't sleep if she went back to her room. Scooping up somecandies, she set them on the table and sorted them by color: blue,green, yellow, orange, red, brown. Popping the blue ones into hermouth, she crunched them in silence. John sat across from her,watching. Usually she got teasing comments when people saw her doit, but she couldn’t eat unsorted M&M's. Therewas something blasphemous about it.
Lydon took along pull from his beer and let a deep breath out slowly. If Roriwas feeling both exhausted and restless, John was feeling tortured.Her nearness was both punishment and ecstasy. He knew he had verylittle time to act, but was terrified to do so. It would be so easyto drive her away.
He'd gone aboutthis wrong, and he'd underestimated Rori. You were right afterall, mom. The thought mocked him. At every turn she had metJohn Lydon with suspicion, defending Jack fiercely. He'd been givena second chance— delivered into the hands of angels— and may wellhave thrown it away for vanity. Rori McLeary didn't want theperfect body and face. She wanted Jack Lynch.
Jack's spirittrembled in John's body.
"Rori, I know Ihave no right to ask it of you, but I'd like to say a few things.Do you think you can hear me out? Believe me when I tell you, thisis what Jack would want."
Her suddenanger didn't surprise him. "How would you know what Jack wouldwant? I've kept my mouth shut all day, but I'm done. What exactlyis this game you are playing?"
"I know itprobably looks bad—"
"Bad?Bad? It looks criminal, frankly." She took a deep breath,crunching down on four red M&M's beforesorting another handful into color-coded piles. "I've been thinkingabout it all day, and it's absolutely creepy the way you areimitating Jack. And I don't trust the way you're sucking up to hismother. It's almost like she has just— just— erased Jack andplugged you into the empty space!"
"Jack knows Iwill look after his mother. She's more of a mother to me than myown, now." It was true enough. John's mother lived in Palm Springs,and Jack had never met her.
"And just whendid you two— the walking definitions of arch-frenemies— becomebesties, John? When did you get to know Jack so well? When did youstop bullying everyone around you and become mister chivalry?"
"I can't tellyou Jack's side of the story— those are his secrets to keep." Hewas getting really good at manipulating the truth. "What I can dois give you my side of it, if you are willing to listen."
She shrugged,but it was a reluctant assent.
"Jack had everyreason to hate me. But I think you know, maybe better than anyoneelse, he isn't wired that way. He might have wanted to see me takea hit, or get a dose of my own medicine, yeah. But
