“Mom and I lived in an apartment,” she explained absently.“There was a courtyard, but no backyard.Bet this is pretty in the summer.Wyn, we have to plant flowers.”
I swallowed and hastily looked at Archer, whose face was expressionless.
She was already thinking about summer.Months from now.
With me still here.
“Let’s check out the upstairs,” I suggested, hoping to shift the conversation away from the future.
We all headed back inside.Archer closed the door behind us and locked it.Lenni rushed to the stairs, Mildred trotting after her.
The second floor had one master bedroom and bathroom, along with another smaller bedroom and hallway bathroom.
“You take the master, Wyn,” Archer announced.
“I can’t take the master bedroom,” I said.“That’s not fair.”
“I’ll take it,” Lenni said with a smile.
“The master bath has the tub,” Archer replied.
“Sold.”I laughed.Turning to Lenni, I said, “You getthatroom.”
She ducked her head into the room across the hall and gasped.
“What?”I demanded.“What’s wrong?”
“It’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen!”Her face was stricken as she waved us toward the room.
Archer and I came into the space.
“What the ever-loving fuck,” Archer blurted out.
Lenni hastily covered her mouth but couldn’t stop the bubble of laughter that escaped.
Nothing in the room matched.The blue and red plaid comforter clashed with the pea-green walls.The furniture was different types of wood and styles in various colors.
“Why do I have a sudden craving for split pea and ham soup?”Archer wondered, looking at the ceiling.
I chuckled.“We can fix this.”
“We can?”Lenni asked, her tone droll.
“Trip to the paint store, a new bedspread and sheet set.Easy.”I picked up one of the hand-painted wooden bird figurines that rested on an unvarnished shelf.“What is this supposed to be?”
“Uh, a bird?”Lenni said.
“No kidding.”I rolled my eyes.“I don’t recognize what kind of bird this is.”
Archer began to laugh as he took the figurine from me.“That’s a grouse.”
“What’s a grouse?”I asked.
“A bird native to North Idaho.”His brown eyes sparkled with humor.“And they’re delicious.”
Lenni gasped.“Youeatthem?”
“Yes,” he said.“You eat chicken.Grouse isn’t any different.”
