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“Mia, is that you over there?” I asked into the darkness. “I can’t see.”
Before I heard her response, the lights slowly came on, like a reverse fade. The blinds slowly went up and the dusky sky appeared.
“Crickey, how did that happen?” I asked. “Mia, are you over there? “
“Yes, and I hate you for making me fall asleep,” Mia moaned from somewhere under the covers. “What time is it?”
“I don’t know. How did the lights go on and the blinds go up?” I pulled the covers back slightly. “I need that at home.”
“I hit the remote. It’s great isn’t it?” Mia sat up against the headboard. “That was something I fell in love with my first night here.”
“How could you not?” I looked out at the sky. “What time do we have to leave for the charity ball?”
“Victoria said seven.” Mia looked to me. “The sun is setting, isn’t it? Shoot, we have to get up.”
At the same time, we both pulled the covers back to reveal Sophie and her teddy, Benjamin, sound asleep in a ball. Mia’s dog, Amoeba, had crawled her way under the covers and was happily snuggled in with Sophie, too.
“Why don’t you let her sleep while you go get a shower?” Mia said. “When you get out, we can switch, and I’ll go shower.”
“Are you washing your hair and everything?” I asked, wondering just how fixed up I needed to be. “Wait… where’s my bags? I need my shampoo and, well, everything.”
“It’s all been unpacked and put in the bathroom, I’m sure,” Mia said. “Rebecca is your helper while you’re here, and she’s great.”
“Someone emptied my suitcase and laid out my stuff?” I was confused. “Why? I can do it.”
“Chloe, you’re in Hawthorne Manor. You don’t do anything yourself.” Mia shooed me on. “Go on, get a shower.”
“This is so weird.” I came back from the bathroom. “My stuff is perfectly laid out as if I did it.”
“I told you, Rebecca is great.” Mia shot me her familiar Mia smile. “She is at your service, so let her do her job.”
“If I let her do all this for me, how will I ever go back to taking care of myself?” I looked once more out the vast windows. “Give me ten minutes.”
The shower was an experience in itself. I spent a good five minutes trying to figure out how to turn the water on. Everything appeared to be digital. I stepped out of the shower, threw the towel on, and stuck my head into the bedroom.
“Mia, how do I turn on this water,” I said as softly as possible. “Seriously Mia, I hear you laughing. I just need water.”
Mia climbed out of the bed and pushed through the bathroom door.
“Water on,” Mia said just inside the shower door, “water lukewarm.”
“How was I supposed to figure that out? As if I’ve ever seen anything like this before.” I dropped the towel and stepped in under the perfectly lukewarm water. “What about if I want the water warmer?”
The temperature changed as I said the words.
“If you want the shower massage or the rainfall overhead, just tell it.” Mia opened the shower door again. “Right and left massage.”
Water came at me from both sides in the perfect strength to be invigorating, yet not beat up.
“I’m changing that ten minutes to thirty minutes, please,” I called out as Mia left the bathroom. “Or maybe I’ll stay here all night.”
The door opened again. “I heard that last comment. Don’t make me tell it to give you a cold shower,” Mia threatened. “Ten minutes or less, and when you’re done, just say ‘water off.’”
“Fine, I’ll be out in ten minutes,” I said to the now empty bathroom. “Don’t worry shower, I’ll come back later. Could I maybe have some music later?”
And now I’m talking to computerized showers.
“Water off,” I said begrudgingly. “Mia, I’m out if you want to jump in.”
