Harry’s concession to making peace was to play the host. “You want some tea?”
“No, I don’t want any of your shitty tea. Don’t you have any beer?”
“I do. Do you want one?”
“Well, yeah,” Jack said, getting to his feet.
Tea in hand, Harry led the way into the practice room. Jack with his beer followed. Together, they sat down cross-legged on a deep-blue practice mat. “So, talk to me, Jack.”
“The girls are coming soon, probably within the next couple of days. Yoko will be staying with you, at least temporarily.” Jack quickly outlined all that Nikki had told him. Tongue in cheek, he said, “You better start sprucing up the place, Harry.” Harry favored him with the evil eye, which then made Jack hurry to explain all that Lizzie had told him. “Here’s the check for the renovations. A letter of apology will be coming from the bank. Lizzie wasn’t sure how long that would take, but it is coming. If I were you, I’d frame it when it gets here. From now on you will be banking online, and Lizzie and some guy at the bank will be monitoring your account since you have such a phobia about mail. They’re still working on the credit card stuff, so just be patient. You can still use the two cards you have, it’s been cleared, and new card numbers have been issued. You following me here, Harry?”
“Yeah, but I don’t like that online part.”
“Harry, you are such a Neanderthal. That’s another way of saying you don’t have a choice in the matter. It was part of the deal Lizzie made, so suck it up and shut up. How about another beer?”
“What, now you want me to wait on you, too? Gratitude goes just so far, Jack.”
“Listen, your ass could be sailing over Kentucky as we speak if it wasn’t for me, so, yes, I expect you to wait on me. Hand and foot. Then I’m going to help you spruce up your place for when Yoko arrives. That means we have to wash the sheets, preferably new ones, in some sweet-smelling stuff, get some fresh flowers, dust with lemon something or other, clean the dust off the paddle fan, and really clean up that scuzzy bathroom of yours. I’m thinking you need new pink bathroom rugs. Women love pink. New towels, too, big and soft. Soap that smells good, new toothbrushes, all that junk you saw in my house. I’m sleeping here since today is Friday, and we can hit the stores first thing in the morning.”
Harry’s eyes were as round as he could make them. “Tell me you’re jerking my string, Jack.”
Jack laughed. “It’s either that or you’re going to Kentucky. Your choice.”
“I hate your guts, Jack. If I find out you’re lying to me, you’re the one who will be going to Kentucky!”
Chapter 13
The Sisters were clustered together on the platform where the cable car rested as they waited for Charles to join them with whatever last-second information was coming in by the minute. It was four in the afternoon, and their trip into the nation’s capital would get them there soon after dark. It was the perfect time for the six-hour trip.