After I got Sylvia settled in, I went to the study. Around midnight, a scream tore through the house.
"What the hell?!"
"Valentine, you sick freak! You're insane!"
Melanie stormed into the study seconds later.
She was wearing a lace negligee, black stockings, full makeup, and perfume.
That was when it hit me.
Today was the weekend.
"Valentine, you gave the bedroom to some random woman off the street."
Her brows were pinched tight with fury.
"Sylvia's in a terrible state. You really expect her to sleep on the floor, or in here?"
I didn't turn my head. My eyes stayed on the computer screen.
Those were the exact words Melanie had once used on me.
She froze for a few seconds, then let out a sigh and walked over, settling herself onto my lap.
"Honey, stop this, okay? Just send that homeless girl away."
"Once Boyd's a little better, I'll have him leave too. Deal?"
Have him leave?
Melanie had said things like that plenty of times before.
And every time, she never brought it up again.
It was nothing but a tactic to keep me quiet.
When I didn't respond, she looped her arms around my neck and leaned in close, her lips brushing my ear.
"Just say yes. Please?"