hospital bed?” Mel and Rose looked at each other. Rose shrugged. “We can use it as a spare bed. It would be a shame to see it go. It’s been part of the house.” “These things take time,” Ben said. “Your poor father died in that bed. It’s hard to let go.” The sisters held hands and nodded. Ben shuffled his feet. “When are you going back to work?” Ben asked. Rose’s face transformed into a beam. Mel thought she’d never seen her look so alive. She released her hand. “Well,” Rose began. “I’m actually about to embark on a three year career break.” “Sounds great. What are you going to do?” Rose glanced sideways at Mel. “I’ll just go downstairs and bring round more sandwiches,” Mel said. She cleared her throat and left the two standing by the empty bed. “Have a guess,” said Rose looking at his clean fingernails. He’d even filed them so there would be no sharp edges. “Gosh,” he began, scratching behind his ear. “I’m useless at these things…travel?” “Nearly,” said Rose, grinning. “Renovations?” he ventured. “Truth is,” Rose said, her fingers flying to her head to comb lose strands of hair, feeling ashamed, suddenly. “I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m forty. I’m alone. I’ve no one to care for now.” “I’m sorry,” said Ben. “It’s none of my business, really. You must excuse me.” “Aren’t you hungry?” asked Rose, watching how his lip curled slightly. He shuffled his feet again. Something about him reminded her of the man in the library even though they didn’t look remotely alike. Ben nodded. She held out her hand. “Come, come eat.”
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