Jane ate her yogurt, pretending not to admire Danny. He wore green again; faded plaid flannel over a white t-shirt with stained, ripped jeans. He'd added something new to his ensemble this morning: eyeglasses. Black rectangular frames that rendered him even more adorable. He sat across from her, reading the sports page. Prett also wore glasses; half-moon frames that made him appear middle-aged. He read the front page aloud, adding his own snide comments and conjectures on the articles within. By the time they finished eating, Jane not only knew the local, state, and world events, she knew Prett's opinion on every one. I liked him better quiet. Government-hating tea party Republican. She struggled to hold her tongue.

While the men continued their bathroom tiling, she started on the library, finding the solitude a relief. This room required preparation beyond throwing plastic sheeting on the floor. In addition to the fireplace, she needed to protect the built-in shelving and window seats, all of which had been designed by Val, built by Prett, and installed by Danny. Prett had told her this with a shrug, as though their craftsmanship was commonplace.

Before she began, she looked at the pink panels covering the windows. Four, this time. And two of the windows faced the street. Do I dare? He didn't object when I took down the kitchen panels. Yeah. Because he was distracted.

She envisioned Prett holding the boxelder bug, looking at her with his teasing brown eyes before offering her his hand. She shook away the images.

Remove these or not? I want the light. But Prett doesn't. He doesn't want people seeing inside. So what'll he do if he finds out I gave Genevieve and Cadence a tour? Ugh. Fire me. Yeah? And then Genevieve will hire me back.

Jane took a deep breath. Bravery had eluded her last night, but daylight does wonders for a person's courage. She pulled all four panels off, anxiously vacuuming up the resulting dust and bugs, expecting Prett to storm in and demand she rehang them. But he didn't.

By mid-morning she'd wrapped half a wall with plastic. Val was right; prep work was dull. She was digging in the supply box for another roll of blue tape when Prett came in. "I'm headed to the funeral parlor to help make decisions." He sighed. "Val's coming with me. But Vel's staying to finish the tiling."

"Okay."

He glanced at her progress, letting his eyes linger on the front windows, brilliant with snow-reflected sunlight. A car passed at that moment, the driver slowing to ogle the building. Damned looky-loo! Go away! Jane sucked in her breath, bracing herself for Prett's reaction. He looked at her. "So I'll see you later." He gave a slight nod and left the room, letting out two distinct whistles–one to call Val and the other to let Danny know they were leaving. Jane exhaled.

A couple hours later as she sat perched on the stepladder, Danny entered. He still wore his glasses, with his hair in a ponytail. He looked up at her, flashing a dazzling smile. Trembling fits of adoration. Oh God. How will I understand him without Prett around? He touched his chest and mouth before pointing to the wall and her. She smiled. I got this. "Lunch sounds great! I'm starved!" She climbed down. "I'm thinking I need to eat more for breakfast. Yogurt and granola were fine when I had a desk job, but it doesn't last as long when doing something physical." Physical? Did you have to use that word? And you're babbling. He'll think you're an idiot.

Danny heated leftover stew, finding some crusty bread and gourmet cheese to pair with it. Jane declined his offer of wine, though he poured himself a glass.

The town whistle blew its noon alert, causing Jane to grip her spoon. Danny smirked. He began to sign but abruptly stopped himself to type into his phone instead. A moment later Jane's cell pinged with a text. 

          Took me years to stop jumping.

"I don't understand the need to blare a siren four times a day," she replied.

Danny shrugged and sent a series of texts.

          So farmers knew to come for meals
          Now they have cells & gps
          Small town traditions die hard

"I guess." Jane jiggled her phone. "How'd you get my number?"

          Prettyman

"You like calling him 'Pretty Man', don't you?"

Danny grinned. 

          Its his name

"Pronounced 'Prettamin.' "

          Spelled prettyman

"He doesn't call you 'Valentine.' "

          Already have a valentine. Can't have 2.

Ugh. He sounds just like Prett. Maybe he doesn't get misinterpreted after all. "Why do you want me to call you 'Danny' instead of 'Vel'?"

          U wanted less confusing name

"But now I'm the only one who calls you 'Danny'. That might confuse other people."

          Or make them call me Danny

"Do you want them to call you 'Danny'?"

          I can be Danny again

"Again? When did you stop?"

Making an explosion sound, he brought his hands up together over his bowl of stew, then gave a light tap to his head.

"When you got bombed? Why?"

          Long story

"I've got time."

          Too long 4 text

"I'll have Prett tell me, then."

          He won't tell u

"Why not?"

Danny hesitated.

          Too painful

"Because he pulled the plug on you?" Danny looked surprised, and Jane admitted, "Genevieve told me. Said you died and came back to life. You haven't been the same since." Jane furrowed her brows. "Or maybe she meant Prett wasn't the same."

          We 3 aren't the same

"How are you different?"

Danny thought a moment.

          No more anger

"You were angry?" He nodded. "At Prett?" He nodded again. "For turning off your life support?" He shook his head.

          Before
          And just after
          Because I lived
          I blamed him

"You blamed Prett because you lived?"

He smirked.

          I'm all about irony

He rubbed his temple before taking a large gulp of wine. "Are you having one of your headaches?" Jane asked. He nodded. She imagined his head in her lap while she ran her fingers through his hair. She forced herself not to make the offer.

          Can't stand fumes

Of course! No wonder he doesn't want to paint. The fumes made her headachy, too, and she didn't suffer from TBI migraines. "Why don't you tell Prett it gives you headaches?"

Danny shrugged.

           I want to work

Jane smiled. "So you aren't the lazy one who lives off the government?"

Danny took another swallow of wine and grinned.

          I'm still the lazy one who lives off the government

"Veteran's disability, right? I think you earned that."

          I can still swing a hammer
          So don't need it
          P made me take it

"He was right." Don't ask about his brain injury. "Do you really understand advanced calculus or was that a joke?" Seriously? I said don't ask.

          I did
          Hard to concentrate now
          Short attention span
          Squirrel!

Jane laughed. Danny grinned, his intense blue eyes gazing at her.

          I like you

Jane blushed with appreciation.

          You good for P

Her smile disappeared and she let out an exasperated huff. "Why does everyone say that?!" At Danny's quizzical expression, she added, "Genevieve and Cadence. They practically have me married to him." Danny threw back his head in a barking laugh. "So why did he hire me?" Jane asked. "Why do I get to see your place and your friends don't? Why did he bring me home? Is it because I look like his old girlfriend?"

          He won't talk
          But Val&I see
          You are lightning to him

"What does that mean?" Jane shook her head. "Don't give him any ideas." Government-hating conservative. "He isn't my type. At all."

          That ok. He not like romance either.

"So I've heard." Jane shifted her position, shrugging off the thought of she and Prett. "So how come none of you date?"

          V 2 shy. P 2 gun shy.

"Gun shy? Because of a bad experience?" Danny nodded. "With the ex?" Danny nodded again. So why does Prett want me around if I resemble her? "And you?"

Danny studied her with his pretty eyes.

          Would u date me?

"Are you asking me to, or just wondering if I think you're dateable?"

           Absolutely dateable. Entirely available. U?

"Absolutely dateable and entirely available."

He grinned.

           Want to go steady?

"You're just teasing me." Please say you aren't. Please say you aren't.

          Bad habit.

Darn. "Cadence says you're all bark and no bite."

His face darkened.

          She hates me

"Why?"

          I spoke to her

"Why would that make her hate you?"

          I said horrible thing

"What?"

          Unspeakable

"Did you apologize?"

He shook his head with remorse.

          Won't forgive

"Did you try?"

          Won't forgive

He put down his phone and concentrated on his stew, his shoulders slumped in resignation.

What in the world? What did he say to Cadence that has him this morose? Something about her scars? But he has scars, too. I wonder what his scars look like. If I saw him in his skivvies... Her face heated. She glanced at him, but he remained intent on his stew. She refocused. Cadence always seems irritated with him, but... "I don't think she hates you." Danny looked up, hope glimmering in his eyes. Jane inwardly gasped. I'm way too late to the game. "Are you in love with her?!"

Danny flushed and his eyes widened before resuming his fascination with the stew.

"You are, aren't you?"

He grabbed his wineglass, gulped the remaining liquid, and poured himself another. He drained another half glass before looking at Jane with wariness. He picked up his phone.

          V says you took down pink. Let in light. P put back.
          You took down more pink. Let in more light.
          Now you shine light on me. I see why P scared.

"Scared!" Jane laughed. "Of light?" Danny nodded. "What, are you vampires?" With a wry smile, Danny resumed eating. Jane thoughtfully chewed a bite of cheese. So he's in love with Cadence. The good ones are always taken. Sigh. Story of my life. I wonder if Cadence knows how he feels? "I think she doesn't like you flirting with everyone. You never flirt with her. Maybe she's jealous."

Danny shook his head.

          No hope
          Won't forgive

Jane looked at his mournful face. We'll see about that.

Prett and Val returned mid-afternoon and joined Danny in the hotel bathroom. Jane had begun painting the library ceiling when the six o'clock whistle blew, causing her to splatter primer on her face. "Crap." She tried to wipe it off her cheek just as Prett showed up. "We're quitting for the day," he said. "Vel has some kind of grub ready for us to eat." He strolled to the front windows, picking up an insulation panel. Seriously? He can't leave them off? Well, I won't help him. Jane crossed her arms. Prett fitted the first three panels in, but before he could reach the fourth, Jane snatched it up and shoved it into the window. She turned to face him. His expression was inscrutable. "Let's get your brushes wrapped up," he said. Silently they cleaned up the supplies and silently they walked to the apartment.

Danny had supper waiting: broiled salmon with pineapple salsa and rice. He poured wine for himself, and Jane accepted a glass, but his brothers drank sweet tea. They discussed the food, the hotel's progress, and the upcoming funeral, but underneath it all, the men appeared engaged in a heated signed debate, with Prett and Danny holding steady against Val. Jane attempted to follow along, and when that failed, attempted to ignore them. She ate her food and downed a second glass of wine. Then Danny slumped back with a scowl. Val glared at Prett, who shook his head in stubborn refusal. Oh, this is intolerable. Jane clanged her fork onto her plate. "What are you arguing about!?"

Prett shrugged. "Whose turn it is to do dishes."

"I don't believe you."

Prett regarded her a long moment. Then his eyes softened. "We're discussing the refraction of light though different mediums and how we perceive objects in its path."

"Oh," she replied. "In other words, you're discussing how scary it is I keep taking down pink panels and finding out things about you." 

Prett raised his eyebrows. 

Nailed it. "Well, you only have yourself to blame. You hired me. You brought me here. I don't know why you insist on hiding from the world anyway. I mean," she waved her hand to indicate the apartment, "I haven't seen anything horrifying or sickening. Just the opposite, in fact. In fact, I'm not the only one who thinks so. Genevieve and Cadence came over yesterday, and I gave them a tour of the entire hotel. And I would have given them a tour of this place if I'd had a key. If you want to fire me for it, go right ahead. Genevieve will just hire me back. And then she'll tell me to rip down those ugly pink panels and throw them away. Then you'll have some freaking scary light to argue about!"

Danny's mouth was half open as if he was undecided whether to be shocked or entertained, while Val clapped his approval. Prett's expression remained bland. He lifted his glass of tea. "A real firecracker, this one."

Jane's back stiffened. "Because I have red hair?!"

"I said nothing about hair color. You have a short fuse and pop off in a bang. Hence, a firecracker."

"Val has red hair. Is he a firecracker, too?"

"Again, hair color is irrelevant. And no, he isn't a firecracker. If anything, he's a sparkler, mesmerizing you with apparent innocuous beauty while surrounding you with land mines."

Jane scoffed as she glanced at Val, who grinned. "You make him sound devious."

"He is."

"That's ridiculous."

"You haven't known him as long as I have. Thirty-four years, and I still walk blindly into his mind traps."

 Jane shook her head, but Val nodded.

"You agree with him?" Jane asked.

Val nodded again, looking pleased with the assessment.

"You're devious?"

"He's The Master Manipulator," Prett said. Val signed a comment, and Prett retorted, "For my own good, my ass."

"Master Manipulator," Jane said with derision. "So is Danny a Master Manipulator, too?"

"Danny couldn't hide an emotion to save his life." Danny laughed in agreement. "He's whatever he's feeling at any given moment."

"So what are you?"

"I'm not anything."

With a chuckle, Val whipped out his phone. Prett and Danny's phones soon pinged, along with Jane's.

Does the whole town have my number now? She looked at the text.

          Prett is dynamite inside a concrete bunker.
          Lots of explosions you never see or hear.

Prett scoffed as he dropped his phone in his shirt pocket. He pushed away from the table, grabbing his empty plate. "You'll start seeing explosions if y'all don't clean up these dishes." He deposited his into the sink and exited the apartment.

Jane stood, but a lightheadedness made her sit again. Danny and Val looked concerned. "I think I had too much wine," she said. Danny pointed to her empty wine glass, holding up two fingers. "Yeah, I don't hold my liquor very well." Oh God, what did I say to Prett!?

After a short discussion between the two brothers, Danny walked Jane back to the hotel. She clung to his arm as he helped her upstairs. After assuring him she'd go straight to bed, she watched him leave down the back stairs. A few minutes later she heard noises from the front lobby. She crept downstairs to find Danny had flicked on the Christmas lights. He held a pink panel freshly pulled from the front window. In the twinkling glow, he grinned at her, then pulled off the remaining lobby panels. He opened the front door, put his finger to his lips, and slipped out. Jane was halfway back to her room when she received his text.

          Time to shine the light on Val.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please help me improve my writing by pointing out problems. And if you like what you read, please click the Vote button below. And comment! I love comments! 😊  

Fun Fact:  Chapman still blows the daily whistle four times a day. I hope they never end that tradition. 😊

Here's a postcard sent to my grandmother in 1913 showing scenes from my hometown:

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