Page 53 of Spiritwarrior

“Go ahead.”

“Atta girl.” Giving her a jaunty smile, he went into the bedroom to go into the bathroom, then opened the trash bag and got to work. He had a strong stomach, but what Baylin had done to the bathroom was disgusting.

He had known Sophie wouldn’t want strangers going through her things. Nor would she want Ginny to see it, either. Sophie wasn’t used to letting people help her, other than her parents. He imagined moving from state to state as she said they had. They had learned to depend on each other, Jody thought grimly. The woman was just going to have to get used to the fact her inner circle was going to expand. She had a big family who would take her family’s back to ease their worries.

He made a mental note of the makeup that Baylin had destroyed before he tossed it in the trash bag. Using the few washcloths that had managed to escape her notice, he cleaned the bathroom. Luckily, he found some bleach under the sink.

Satisfied, he tied up the trash bag. All he needed to do now was sweep the floor and mop.

When he went back to living room, he found Sophie had made headway, also.

“Where’s your broom and mop?”

“In the hall closet.”

Hearing a tearful note in her voice, he sent her a questioning glance. “Is something wrong?”

Sophie gave him a worried frown. “I’m wondering how I’m going to be able to replace the couch, chair, and glass table. The cost is more than I made for the whole week so far. I’ll have to pay for it before my parents move in. I already told them I managed to scrape enough together to furnish the apartment.”

“Put that out of your mind. Baylin will take care of the cost of the furniture. By the time your parents get here, it will look just as it did before she trashed your belongings.”

“You think?”

“I do,” he said firmly. “I’m going to finish up in the bathroom; you finish what you need to get done here. When we’re done, I’ll help you open the restaurant. I’ll even make you my famous cinnamon rolls.”

The worry disappeared from her face and was replaced with humor. “What makes them famous?”

“No one in town can beat them. I’ve won two blue ribbons at the fair for those suckers.”

Sophie laughed. “Then I can’t wait to taste them.”

Warmth filled his chest at the way she looked at him. Then regret filled him that he hadn’t been true to her the way Matthew had stayed to Alanna.

He found the mop and broom and finished the bathroom.

“You ready?” he asked, laying the trash bag on the floor.

“As much as I can do for now. I’ll do the rest tonight after I close the diner.”

Jody carried out the trash bags and pressed the elevator button while Sophie closed and locked the apartment door.

As he waited for her, she was turning away from the door when Baylin came out of her apartment, dressed for work. He groaned inwardly.

Both women stood indecisively as to what to do next. Sophie made the first move by starting to walk down the hallway. Baylin opened her door and went back inside her apartment.

Seeing Baylin had gone back inside, Jody could read the relief on Sophie’s expression.

“Well, that was uncomfortable,” she remarked, stepping inside the waiting elevator.

“The only one who should have been uncomfortable was Baylin.”

As the elevator door closed, he pressed the first-floor button.

“Do you think, if she gets another man, she could do the same thing? That’s scary what she did. I don’t think I want my parents living next door to her.”

Jody thought it over. “I’m hoping she’s learned her lesson, but I can understand why you don’t want your parents to live next to her.”

“What should I do?”

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