Lydia Lane by Judith Bowen

Author:Judith Bowen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2002-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

SAM NOTICED THAT something had been done to his bedroom. He ran up to change out of his suit and tie before rushing off to meet Avie and then pick up Amber from her homework group. The mothers of four of Amber’s friends had gotten together and organized the rotating after-school group, which meant every fifth time it was Sam’s turn.

The large Turkish carpet, which had been taken out last week to be cleaned, was back and positioned squarely on the recently polished hardwood floor. His bed sported a new bedskirt, he noticed, a square-cornered black affair, which gave the impression that the bed was floating off the floor. There were also two extra pillows at the headboard. It looked very inviting.

But he didn’t realize until he showered that night—fluffy new towels, he noted with approval—and crawled into his bed that it was altogether different. Different sheets, different feeling somehow.

—a properly made bed contributes to a good night’s sleep—

He remembered what Lydia had said on Candace’s show. A properly made bed. He wriggled his shoulders around, settling into the comfort of the mattress. He didn’t recall his bed being this soft and at the same time firm and supportive. Nice new sheets, too. Cool and welcoming.

Hadn’t Lydia said she preferred white? Now, he told himself with a grimace, if only she was here to share these brand-new sheets with him…

The extra pillows were a good idea. Easier to sit up and read in bed—why hadn’t he thought of that? He arranged them to his satisfaction and started looking through a brief, which involved a longtime client who said he’d been roughed up in the police station when he was hauled in on a drunk and disorderly charge.

The house was very quiet. Amber had gone to bed three hours ago, and Sam had watched an Aussie rules football game on the sports channel. He should’ve been doing some work, but he felt restless. Once he went out to the hall closet and opened the doors just to gaze at the miracle that had been wrought.

His jackets and coats hung on one side. Amber’s hung on the other. Three neatly labeled baskets under Amber’s side contained “mitts and scarves,” “hats” and “school stuff.” Amber was supposed to put anything to do with school in that basket, so Sam would be able to take a look at it. No more hunting for permission slips, field trip schedules, fund-raiser events. No more calls from the teacher wondering about the report card that hadn’t been signed and returned. At least, that was the idea.

“We can adjust this system if you find it doesn’t work for you,” Lydia had said. “We’ll give it a try for two weeks.”

Just two weeks? Would she be gone by then?

On the other side, in two stacked baskets and also neatly labeled, were his things: “gloves and scarves,” “sports,” which contained ski goggles, headbands, sunscreen, sunglasses and various other items. Beside that was a basket labeled “gym clothes.” On the inside of the door she’d attached a white plastic basket labeled “mail.

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