Page 37 of Worst in Show

“Oh, um…” We do, but it’s also cold out, and I have no idea how long this will take. Time to put that civility into play. “You don’t have to. There’s a TV. Plus, Pop likes you. Don’t ask me why. I mean, unless you think coming with would be weird?”

I pause by the front door, deferring to him. He looks back toward the car and then reaches for the door handle. “After you.”

Animated voices reach us in the hallway outside Harvey’s room.

“I thought we’d get dim lights and sleeping elders,” Leo says in a hushed voice.

I smile at him as a female voice calls out, “No way. The brunette, Marissa, suits him so much better.”

“Is she the one with short hair or long hair?” Harvey asks as we step inside. He lights up at the sight of us. “Cora. And Leo?” His eyebrows jump.

“Are we interrupting something?” I ask, setting my bag down on a chair next to Harvey’s bed.

“Sylvia is introducing me to The Bachelor. Have you seen it? It’s a wild ride.”

“I know what it is. Hi,” I say to Sylvia.

Harvey makes introductions, and we learn that Sylvia is there visiting her brother Charles, Harvey’s roommate, who’s recovering from a stroke.

“You’re looking better, Pop,” I say after Sylvia excuses herself and leaves to go finish her show in the common room.

“I feel better. The staff here is great, the food’s great—”

“I brought you your chips.” I fish a bag out of my backpack. “And the robe is in that bag.”

“Thanks, kiddo. How about you? Anything new?”

Leo excuses himself. “I’m going to go find a vending machine or something.” He takes a step toward the door.

“Leo.” Harvey says his name as if he’d forgotten he was there. “How was your first week?”

“Leo’s helping me remember how to drive your car,” I say.

“Is he now? Whoo boy. Not the easiest task.” Harvey winks at Leo.

“Thanks a lot, Pop.”

“I care too much about my life to confirm or deny,” Leo says. “But the week has been good. Eventful.” He turns to me with a smirk. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

Once Harvey and I are alone, I sit down next to him, and for a few minutes, we watch the muted screen in silence. I haven’t been following this season’s show, so I don’t know who anyone is, but Harvey seems satisfied with the outcome of the rose ceremony.

“How are you really, kiddo?” he asks after turning off the TV. “You look tired.”

I give a pointed glare to his bed. “You’re asking me?”

“Well, it’s not like I don’t realize I’ve put you in a bit of a bind. Obviously, I have complete faith in you handling things like a champ, but I do feel bad.”

I take his hand. “You just worry about healing. I actually got an order on Etsy two minutes after I posted one of my Scarlett O’Haras the other day.”

I tell him about my costumes, and we talk about the Halloween decorations in storage and how I’m helping Micki study for her physiology exam.

“Oh, and I completely forgot. I’ve signed up for the booth and the dog show at Winter Fest this year.” I lean in and lower my voice. “Pop, the grand prize is fifteen thousand dollars.”

His eyes go round. “Is it really? The whole thing will be so much bigger then. People will come from out of state and—”

Leo pushes open the door. “Junior Mints anyone? Or Funyuns?” He holds up the packages. “Pickings were slim,” he says to explain the mismatched loot.

And yet he was gone for over half an hour. He must have stayed away to give us time to talk.

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