Page 65 of Voice to Raise
Then reached for my hand.
I guided him through the formal dining room and then across to the equally formal living room. I stood at the entryway for my father’s study as he poked his head in. Next, I took him up the stairs. First to the bedroom my mother had converted to her office.
Again, I stood in the entryway.
Then came the three spare bedrooms and three lavish bathrooms.
He gaped. “Seriously?”
I grinned. “Wait until you see mine.” I led him that way and flipped on the light as he entered.
“I’m impressed.”
“Why? The size?”
“No.” He turned to face me. “I expected…”
“Dirty?”
“Well, no. More…chaotic.”
“Everything has a place and all that.” I leaned against the door frame as he examined my bookcase. “I still expect my mother to perform an inspection. And since she always reported her findings to my father, my rebellious phase lasted about—” I scratched my chin. “Twenty minutes…?”
He snickered. Then sobered. “This must be hard.”
Clearly, he didn’t mean keeping a clean room. “I have someone who comes once a week to clean, do laundry, and make a few meals. I don’t want to burden her, so I do my best.”
“Have you ever done your own laundry?”
“Um… Is there a right way to answer that?”
“What if you spill sauce on your favorite shirt and you want to wear it again before laundry day?”
I grinned and pointed to the walk-in closet.
He walked in and guffawed. He poked his head back out. “Seriously?”
“If I see something I like, I buy a few of them. That way I never have to worry. It also means I’m less likely to wear things out.”
“Those jeans…” He pointed to my legs.
“Well, jeans are an exception. If I find a pair I like, I’ll wear them until they disintegrate.”
“That’s…a choice.” He grinned. Then pointed to the bathroom while arching an eyebrow.
“Go ahead.”
He walked inside and this time whistled. “Seriously?” He shook his head again. “How much space does one person need?”
“Is there a right answer to that?” This time I was a little less flippant. A little more soulful.
“It must get lonely.”
I shrugged. “I was lonely when they were alive. It’s why I had friends over as often as I could get away with.”
“But not now?”
“It’s not that simple. When I joined the orchestra, my high school friends sort of slipped away. University, dating…all that stuff. I had my music to focus on and, frankly, the friends I made there weren’t the type to come over and hang around. From there…” Another shrug. “Until I met Creed, I was lost. He comes over plenty. Along with Reese and Freddie. I’ve even had Mama Murthi over for dinner. Catered, I promise. No way was I going to risk burning something to feed her.”
