Page 82 of A Bloom in Winter

“That’s one way of putting it.” Hemmy peered into the pan. “I think this is ready for thebeeeeef.”

He made a show out of getting the hamburger into the pan, and then when he stirred, he swung his butt, and hummed a ridiculous stripper tune.

Mahrci had to look away as her face turned red. “Really?”

“Put your back into it. Only way to cook—”

Out in the front of the house, the door opened and closed. As footfalls approached, she had a momentary shot of fear that Remis had come back with the reinforce-ments he’d threatened to hire.

“Hemmy,” she said softly.

“Mmm?” When she didn’t immediately reply, he glanced over at her again. “You okay?”

“I want you to be careful. About Remis.”

“I’m really not worried—”

She dropped her eyes. “You need to be. Please . . . after you leave here—be careful. I fear I’ve brought danger to your door.”

“You know something”—he tossed the hamburger and onion around—“there is great freedom in not accepting responsibility for things you’re not responsible for. Hey, that needs to go on a bumper sticker. T-shirt. Billboard—”

Apex came into the kitchen and seemed to stall out. As his eyes scanned the room . . . she thought back to him being in her father’s house. The male had always been a silent, looming presence, watching them all. In this, he was like the security cameras he was installing in this place, she decided, recording everything.

“You okay there, big guy?” Hemmy asked him.

“Yeah.”

No, she thought. And as she glanced back at Hemmy, he seemed worried, too.

“Beer’s in the fridge,” he said to Apex. “G’on then. Help yourself.”

“I don’t drink. You know that.”

After which Apex went over to the cooler, took out a Sam Adams, and popped the top. As he put the bottle to his lips, he took a deep breath. Then he drank. And drank. And drank . . .

Hemmy seemed shocked, the spoon-stirring and the butt-whirling stopping.

“Slow down, son,” he murmured, “and come up for a little air.”

When the bottle was empty, the male went over to the lower level of cupboards and started opening things.

“The trash is two over from there,” Mahrci said as she pointed to a section closer to the sink.

“Thank you.”

As he deep-six’d the bottle, Apex straightened and put his hands on his hips. “After dinner, we have to get cranking with the work. We’re leaving at nightfall tomorrow.”

Hemmy shrugged. “What’s the hurry—”

“Fifteen minutes after sundown and we’re out of here.” He nodded to the stove. “So be quick about that, and eat fast.”

As he left, there was a waft of something burning in the pan. But Hemmy stayed where he was, staring at the archway the other male had disappeared through.

“He issucha cheerful presence.” Hemmy turned back to the stove. “I mean, a real ray of sunshine wherever he goes—damn it.”

He took the pan off to the side and agitated the beef with his spoon.

“He’s right,” Mahrci said with resignation. “We all have to leave. As soon as possible.”

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