Crown Phoenix: Night Watchman Express

by Alison DeLuca

  ***

  hen the Cantwells returned that evening, Simon made a great point of being very attentive to Barbara: taking her coat, holding her chair for her and turning the pages of her music as she practiced piano. If he grew more annoyed as Miriam and Neil stuck together, he didn’t show it. His mother was delighted that he was staying away from the ‘Fisherboy,’ as she now called Neil. She began to plan trips to the country for Barbara and Simon.

  Barbara, watching events with her strange, dark orange eyes, smiled to herself and said little. When she did talk, it was to Simon, in a low, husky, confiding tone.

  Miriam, keeping in mind Mana’s orders to stay silent, stayed next to Neil on the settee. She wished she could root through Miss Cantwell’s fashionable leather trunk or at least search her pockets. However, she kept quiet as well, and waited.