PART 10

Jamie was hiding out in Uncle Mal and Aunt ‘Nara’s master bathroom. It was once a room in itself, but since they’d had no need for it as such, they’d knocked down a few walls and added a hot tub and a lot of counter space. Despite the occasional scented candle, there was a mark of simplicity that made it comfortable for a man to share this space. There were no floral patterns or fruity colors. The shower was huge with dual heads – one at the perfect height for Mal, the other for Inara. The lighting around the vanity on one of the sinks was perfect for shaving. The hot tub was broad enough and long enough for Jamie to recline in without feeling claustrophobic, which was saying a lot. Jamie decided that one day he’d have a bathroom like this. His apartment on Osiris had a tiny bathroom and his shower sprayed water on his shoulders. The latter problem had arisen only because he’d grown six inches since signing the lease.

Jamie was lying down, tossing a scented fizzy ball in the air and catching it again. Everyone had seen he was tired, and they’d probably thought he’d found some place to crash. As tired as he was, he couldn’t stop turning Uncle Jayne’s words in his head. Now his dad knew something too, but at least he’d had the decency to not ask too many questions. If he told mom, she’d tell Aunt ‘Nara who’d tell Uncle Mal. He shouldn’t have come.

Jamie heard the bathroom door open and he debated whether he should keep hiding and hope the person didn’t look in the tub. He peeked over the edge to see who it was, and when his inflatable pillow croaked, he was suddenly staring down the barrel of a gun.

“Genny!” he said holding up his hands in surrender.

His sister recognized him, clicked on the safety, and let out a string of curses. “Yesu, Jamie.”

He appreciated that she didn’t ask him what he was doing here, but he didn’t want to ignore her, so he sat on the edge of the tub and started tossing the fizzy ball again. Her face was red and her eyes bloodshot, and she washed her face in the sink