Let the Rain Come Down
Disclaimer: All characters owned and created by Stephenie Meyer.
This chapter is unbeta'ed – any errors are mine and I apologise in advance.
~o.O.o~
Chapter 11
Jasper's POV
New Year's Eve.
A time for celebration and looking ahead to a better and brighter year.
Or, for some people, just another day to find food and keep warm.
I lay in bed thinking about how I would like to shape the future for Edward and me. My beautiful boy was still sleeping, his face snuggled against my chest. My thoughts circled.
Let me get that job so I can make something of myself and make Edward proud.
Let Edward heal and escape his nightmares.
Let our tests be clear so we can leave our pasts behind for good.
I sighed, my breath pluming before me. I gazed around our gloomy, bitterly cold room, at the ice on the window and the water stains on the wall beneath it.
Let us find a warm, welcoming place to call home.
My fingers toyed with the tufts of hair that escaped Edward's beanie. It needed a cut, just like mine did, but I loved to play with the soft strands, taking comfort in the sensation.
At least we have this room and this bed.
At least we have each other.
There was always something to be thankful for.
~o.O.o~
Edward stirred a short time later, his breathing snuffly. It was inevitable he would catch a cold, out in all weathers every day. It wouldn't be long before I succumbed to it too, no doubt.
"Hey."
His sleepy smile greeted me and the room seemed brighter. I kissed him.
"Morning, love. You feeling okay? Your nose is cold."
"If I were a dog that would be a good thing." He rubbed his nose and was overtaken by an explosive sneeze, making us both jump. He looked abashed. "Sorry."
"You better wrap up extra warm this morning. Right – you stay in here a bit longer and I'll make breakfast."
I swung my legs out of bed and braced myself to face the morning. I filled the kettle before running to the bathroom. The arctic blast when I opened the door stole all the feeling from my extremities. Teeth chattering, I hurried back, eager to wrap my hands around a hot mug of coffee. Edward was buried beneath the covers, but had shifted into my warm spot like a conniving cat that had spotted an opportunity. I smiled.
My little stray.
I flattened a hot dog bun until it fit into the toaster slots. Making the coffee, my cheeks rejoiced at the feel of the steam rising from the mugs. The scent of burning toast filled the air where the edges of the bread had caught. Fishing it out, I dropped it onto a plate and smoothed over a little honey. Edward was awake now, sleepy eyes watching me from depths of the blankets.
"You stole my spot." I couldn't hide the affection in my voice.
His hand fought its way out, grasping for the mug of coffee I held.
"Seemed a shame to waste such lovely heat." His other hand wiggled free and reached for his toast.
"It's an even bigger shame we can't both stay in there all day. This room's so damned cold. At least with the two of us, we have double the body heat." I reached for my coffee and took a reviving sip, remembering how cold that bed had been when I lived alone; the nights I had shivered so hard that the bed shook.
"You can stay, Jas. In fact, it might be a good idea that you do. There's nothing to be gained by sitting around in the cold. I'll stop by the soup kitchen today. I'm sure I read that it's open tomorrow for a New Year's Day lunch. That would mean two hot dinners again this week."
I nodded, enthusiastic. "That would be amazing. Plus the heating's on in there too. It's no wonder you're getting sick – we're never really warm, are we?"
He shook his head, a little despondent.
"The heating's on at Happy Tails of course, but I'm not inside for long. Just enough time to defrost a little and use a warm bathroom." He smile was weak at best, but he still tried to remain upbeat. "And of course the market is open to the elements. I'm just glad it has a roof." He crunched a mouthful of toast.
"I pass a laundromat on the way over to the kitchen. Have you ever used it? I was wondering how much it cost. It would be good to get our jeans and towels washed and dried so they didn't hang around damp for days."
He looked hopeful, and I couldn't deny the idea had potential. We didn't own much after all. Maybe one load would do all our clothes.
"I've no idea. In fact, I'll go and find out today. I can use some exercise. I'll go check the kitchen too, save you the extra walk." I took a bite of toast. "I've never used a laundromat. It'll probably get our clothes much cleaner than we can. Just imagine – everything we own washed and dried the same day. I don't remember that ever happening here, not even in summer."
He brightened.
"If it doesn't cost too much then I'll put some coins aside and we'll go together. I'll need to find a bag… oh! We still have that one from Goodwill. That was pretty big."
He grinned, and I marvelled at his infectious positivity. Finishing his breakfast, he leaned in to kiss me again before clambering out of bed. When he returned from the icebox, we washed using the rest of the warm water from the kettle, shivering until we were once again swathed in layers of warm clothing.
"Take the phone with you, Jas. I had a thought about that as well. We should put a little money on it in case we ever need to call out."
The idea was a good one. There was just one problem.
"Do you know how to put money on it?"
He shook his head. "We'll have to ask Esme. I'm sure she'll understand. It's not like we've ever had a phone before to know how."
I shrugged.
"That's true. Okay, let's make you some lunch and then head out. Looks like it snowed again overnight so give yourself plenty of time."
He pulled me into a tight, warm hug. "I will. And we'll celebrate New Year when I get home. Maybe they'll be fireworks at midnight that we can watch!"
I grinned. "Maybe – assuming we stay awake long enough to see them!"
He looked sheepish. "I know. I'll probably sleep through it all. Once I'm warm I can't keep my eyes open."
"I can't blame you for that. Come on – let's get this day done and enjoy a long lie-in together tomorrow. Bliss!"
His face glowed.
~o.O.o~
Watching him trudge through the new fallen snow to catch the bus, I sighed. I hated winter. It would be wonderful to be warm all the time, to not have to worry about wet clothes, weak chests and the ever-present threat of hypothermia when temperatures plummeted every January and February. Winter hadn't really dug its claws in yet and already I was struggling, my gloved hands plunged deep into the depths of my coat pockets, scarf across my face. My illness had taken a greater toll than I cared to admit. Lost in my thoughts, I almost slipped over on the icy sidewalk.
Pay attention, Jasper.
I saw there were lights on in the laundromat and decided to go over to the kitchen first and double back. Approaching the building, I saw the noticeboard outside and made my way across the street, stepping with care through the fresh snow that deceptively masked the treacherous frozen ruts beneath.
Snow had stuck to the window, obscuring the notices behind the glass. I reached out to brush it off.
"Jasper?"
I spun, seeing no one.
"Jasper!" The voice held a note of affection. Peering around the noticeboard, I saw Esme standing in the doorway of the kitchen. I smiled and she beckoned me over.
"Hey, Esme! I didn't expect to see you. Isn't this place closed today?"
She ushered me inside.
"We had no hot running water. A couple of us volunteered to come in and wait for the contractor. We need it fixed before tomorrow."
I smiled. "That's not good. That's why I'm here. Edward thought there might be lunch again so I said I'd come check it out."
"Well, I'm glad you did. You'll both be very welcome. Now, as you're here, I don't suppose you could spare me a few minutes?"
I tugged off my gloves and hat. "Sure. What can I do?"
She pointed to a box of streamers. "I could use a hand hanging those up. Would you mind? Maria was here with me earlier and we only just finished clearing out the storeroom before she got called away. Hanging these shouldn't take long with two of us."
"No problem." I tipped out the box contents onto the stacked tables. "How do you want them?"
Twenty minutes later, the Christmas streamers were packed away and bright, holographic Happy New Year banners hung in their place. Where the light reflected, rainbows and sparkles danced across the walls. Esme beamed.
"Now that's a job well done! How about a cup of coffee to say thank you?"
I nodded with enthusiasm, following her when she walked across the room. "That'd be great. Say, can I ask you a question? Edward and I were talking this morning and neither of us knows how to put credit on the phone. We were hoping you could maybe tell us?"
She turned. "Oh, it's quite simple. The way most people do it is via the internet." A frown crossed her face then. "Forgive the intrusion, but do either of you have a bank account?"
I shook my head. We'd never had any money that wasn't immediately needed.
"Right. Then what you need to do is go to Walmart or Circle K and buy a refill card. Then you call and have the credit applied. Hold on…" She flicked on the kettle before fumbling in her purse for her own phone. She flicked through screen after screen, her fingers tapping away, until she paused, rummaging in her purse again. She found a pen and tore a piece of paper from a small pad on the countertop, writing down some information.
"There you are – call that number once you have the card and they'll talk you through it. The refill cards start at ten dollars and go up from there. The number may well be on the back of the card, but I've written it down for you just in case."
I read the paper before folding it and stashing it in a zipped pocket.
"Thanks a lot. Hopefully, we won't need to make many calls, but it's just in case Edward needs to call work. Or maybe…" My hand scraped back my hair. "Well, better to have it and not need it, right?"
She nodded, pouring steaming water into two mugs.
"It's very sensible." Placing the mugs on the table, she looked at me with a grin. "Cookie?"
My face must've brightened because she laughed and reached for a tin from the counter.
"They're just plain sugar cookies today – I ran out of chocolate chips."
Taking a bite, I enjoyed the sweet confection, chasing it down with a sip of good strong coffee.
Tilting her head, she looked at me. "Are you both okay? No problems?"
I shook my head. "No, we're great. Well, Edward has a cold, but that's to be expected. I'm waiting to hear about the job at Goodwill. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, to be honest, but..." I steeled myself with a sip of scalding coffee. "I've given up my other work. I want to move forward."
I peered at Esme from beneath my hair, wondering if she had connected the dots. I wasn't entirely sure what she and Edward had discussed, although I knew he was fiercely protective of our personal lives.
She nodded. Was that relief on her face? I couldn't be sure, but she seemed to relax. She pushed the cookies towards me in silent invitation.
"I'm very glad to hear that, Jasper. Very glad."
~o.O.o~
I left the kitchen a short while later, feeling warmer and somehow lighter. I headed back the way I'd come, turning the corner to see the lights glowing in the laundromat. Despite it being morning, the snow laden sky was so dark it felt like dusk.
Pushing open the door, a wave of scented warmth enveloped me. The place looked antiquated, the fake-wood panelling scuffed and the floor showing bare patches from years of footfall. There was just one middle-aged woman at the far end of the row of machines, unpacking a load from a dryer with another load still on the go. I looked at the washer nearest me and saw all manner of buttons and numbers. Feeling nervous, I tried to catch her eye, pulling down my scarf from my face, staying well back in a non-threatening manner.
"Uhh, ma'am? Would it be okay to ask you a question?"
She looked up, eyes sharp, tone abrupt.
"What is it?"
"I've never used a laundromat before. How do I work the machine and what do I do with all the settings?" I pointed to the buttons.
She snapped a towel, folding in a practised manner.
"Depends on what you're washing. Standard setting is marked – that's the one most people use for basics that don't need a boil or prewash. It's a lower temperature, but does the job. Check your labels so you don't shrink your clothes. Anything delicate, or if you're not sure, use the lower temperature. It's the button next to it on the left."
I nodded. She continued, her words sharp as gunshot, with no noticeable inflection.
"For towels, I use a higher setting – gets 'em really clean."
I washed everything in hand-hot water. I doubted I'd ever gotten anything 'really clean'. I bit my lip and nodded again. She carried on folding while she talked, not looking my way.
"Once you're all set, lift the top flap and pour in your detergent. Don't put in the softener until you hear the buzzer near the end. When you're ready to go, put your money in the slot and it starts automatically. Dryers are easy – close the door and put the coins in. Just open the door to stop it."
I looked at the nearest dryer. It said 25c above the coin slot. The washers were worn, the years of thumb marks having all but erased many of the labels. I squinted, trying to make out the price. She watched me.
"It's two dollars fifty a load. Each load'll need a couple of rounds at least in the dryer."
I straightened and smiled.
"Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate the help. You've been very kind."
Pulling the door open, I heard her mumble to herself.
"Kids – useless without their mothers doing everything for 'em."
My posture stiff, I left the building and headed for home, mourning the loss of warmth the minute the door closed behind me.
~o.O.o~
Back home, I found an old flyer and wrote down what the woman had told me. I sat and thought about how many loads it would take to properly wash everything we had at least once. Blankets, sheets, and towels were a must; I couldn't dry a blanket indoors, even with the heater, and towels took days. Then there was our jeans, sweaters, shirts and underwear.
If I guessed at four loads, that brought the cost to around twelve dollars. At least. Plus detergent. If we wanted softener, that was extra.
Deflated, I sank down in the chair before realising I still wore my coat. The frigid room was a stark contrast to the warm laundromat. Sighing, I switched on the heater, shrugged off my snug coat, and swathed myself in a thick blanket.
That woman had judged me and my situation from the simple fact I wore an almost new coat. What a joke. We were scraping by on Edward's earnings, bolstered temporarily by the holiday cheer of the local Chicagoan shoppers. We had some canned food on the shelf from the pantry, all of Edward's earnings having been put towards rent. If he got the flu, I knew he would struggle on regardless, and that wasn't right. Added to that, he needed more substantial, warmer meals when he was out in such low temperatures all day. A sandwich and a bottle of water weren't nearly enough now. He needed hot drinks and hot food to warm his insides and give him the energy to fight off illness.
Feeling suddenly weary, I shuffled to the bed and curled up to read, falling instead into a thin sleep.
My dreams were muddled and dark. I heard Edward call me for supper and saw another guy answer his call… one wearing expensive clothes handing over a wallet stuffed with bills. I saw myself collapsing in the street and folks stepping over me to get by while I screamed out his name, all the while watching him smile and blush at another man's affection.
My head was throbbing when I awoke, hearing a noise.
"Edward?"
My desperation to see him, hold him, consumed me in that moment.
Hearing the noise again, I turned to see a thin branch flailing in the heightened wind, tapping the window on each buffeting bluster.
My head ached like a rotten tooth. Falling asleep had been a bad idea. I looked at my watch – almost time for lunch. I crawled out of bed, shivering despite the blanket wrapped around me. Running my eye over the food options, I settled on the stale buns, toasted with a scraping of peanut butter and a mug of coffee to wash it down. While I ate I made the decision to meet Edward at the market. We hadn't done the simple act of shopping together in so long, and it would be good for Edward to have company on the walk home for a change.
The food eased my groggy head a touch. I cleaned up when I was done, trying not to think too much. My subconscious had other ideas.
If you can't provide for him, there's bound to be someone out there who can and will.
Edward wouldn't leave me. He loves me.
Is that enough when he's cold and hungry every day?
Stop it.
You'll become a liability that he has to support. How long before he gets tired of that?
Stop it.
Someone else could offer him so much more…
STOP IT.
My hand gripped the basin so hard my knuckles hurt, my eyes clenched against the throbbing in my skull.
These insecurities were coming to the surface because I had quit my job. I had to believe I was worth more than a rough fuck in the back of a station wagon, my body steeled against the discomfort and, more often than I liked to remember, pain. It was the fear of moving on, of potential failure. The fear of disappointing Edward when he was doing so well in his own fledgling endeavours.
The balance of our relationship had shifted when I got sick. The dream had flushed out my terror of losing the one good thing in my life, the one thing I was privileged to have.
Edward.
I drank some water and tried to breathe evenly. Refilling my glass, I took it back to bed and set to reading one of my new books, escaping into a fantasy world for a few hours.
~o.O.o~
When I resurfaced it was getting too dark to read any longer. Checking my watch, I saw it was almost time to head out. Flipping on the light, I headed to the bathroom to freshen up before downing some more water. My stomach gnawing, I pocketed a small baggie of cereal to nibble on the way, the sugar rush giving me a welcome boost of energy.
Outside I saw the Christmas lights twinkling in the distance and knew Edward would be sad when they disappeared. To him, they represented hope and comfort, the very things that he gave me. My feet trod the familiar path to the market and I was surprised to find I had missed this. It had been such a huge part of my everyday life until I got sick. Now it seemed like eons ago that I had been to see the familiar faces that now called Edward a friend and colleague.
I smiled at that thought. Who would've ever guessed either of us would find acceptance from our peers? It was proof to me that dogged determination could bring huge rewards and I knew that, despite my own subconscious fears, I could do the same.
The market was winding down, the customers few and far between. The familiar smell of burgers and dogs hung in the air, making me salivate for hot food. How had I resisted that pull every single day? Yet I had, blocking it out as something that was simply unobtainable. I wondered if Edward did the same, or whether he just didn't smell it anymore.
My eyes searched for him, ears listening out for his voice. I heard chatter and noise and turned to see Edward shifting boxes of produce, cheerful as always despite the fatigue. I didn't interrupt until he was done, catching his eye and seeing his face light up.
"Hey!"
He ran over to me and enveloped me in a hug that I returned as best I could in my bulky jacket. I saw some people looking, but to my relief, they were smiling, clearly friends of Edward's.
"I thought we could shop together and you can tell me about your day."
"Great idea. Let's find something for supper. I need something before I keel over. One of the dogs stole my sandwich from my coat."
I was horrified.
"You mean you haven't eaten all day? You should have rung me – I would've brought you something."
He looked sheepish. "I didn't think of that. Come on, let's see what's on offer tonight."
A voice behind him caught his attention and he turned.
"Thanks, Eric. Anytime!"
The guy handed him five bucks and he pocketed it. I lowered my voice.
"You've been doing heavy work on an empty stomach?"
He nodded. "Thought I'd try and make some extra cash for the laundromat. I never say no to any work. Today I've made an extra nine dollars and…" he fished around in his pocket, "twenty-seven cents."
I could only guess how tired he must be. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the baggie of cereal, still half full.
"Eat this before we do anything else. Come on."
He tipped the contents into his hand and ate it in two mouthfuls. I knew the sugar would help temporarily, but that it would also kick start his appetite. When he was done, we headed to Tony's who looked surprised to see us both.
"Good to see you back on your feet, son. What can I get for you?"
We chose some potatoes, an onion, some greens and a couple of small bell peppers. I was determined to get some vitamins into Edward as soon as possible. I nodded to Tony when Edward handed over the money.
"I wanted to thank you, sir. Edward told me about everything you did for us. Thank you. It meant a great deal."
The gruff man returned my nod and handed me our goods.
I decided to try a stir fry in the new pan. We bought some chopped chicken and a small bottle of vegetable oil which ate the rest of our allocated funds. It would last us a while but meant that we had no money left for bread which was essential for Edward's breakfast and lunch. I was worrying how we would manage, but Edward didn't flinch, fishing out his extra earnings and buying us a sliced loaf.
Sliding his arm around my waist, he leaned in close.
"We've still most of it left. I'll try to earn some more tomorrow if I can. Come on – I'm starving."
A thought struck me.
"If you'd like, I could fry the potatoes now we have some oil. Give ourselves a treat."
He groaned at the thought and his stomach echoed the sentiment.
~o.O.o~
I prepared the vegetables while I told Edward all about my morning.
"So, you were right. We can have dinner tomorrow at the kitchen which'll be amazing. I helped Esme with the decorations to say thanks. Hopefully, they've gotten the water fixed." I focused extra hard on the chopping. "I, uh… I told her I'd quit work too."
I peered at him under my hair and saw his happy smile blossom.
"You did? I bet she was pleased. I never said what you do, but she kinda, you know… worked it out." The tips of his ears went red. "I know she worried about you out there and she always asked how you were. This'll give her some peace of mind."
She worried about me? I felt warm inside knowing that two people cared about what happened to me. It was still so new. I set the potatoes on to boil, ready for frying.
"So, after that, I went to the laundromat like we said. You'll love it there – it's so warm and smells so good. I wanted to move in. D'you think they'd notice?"
He laughed, the sound glorious to me. I drizzled a little oil into the new pan ready to use once the potatoes had softened.
"It's going to be expensive, love. I asked a woman there and she told me the prices." I pointed my knife at the flyer I had written on. "It's all on there. We take our own detergent – I checked. It's not included in the cost."
He read through it. "You reckon four loads? I guess we won't know until we see how much the machine can hold. This is a lot, but it'll be worth it. We can still wash our clothes, but to wash everything just this once would be amazing."
"I can't argue with you there. The blankets haven't been washed in I don't know how long. They're just too heavy to handle when they're wet."
"Exactly. I'll keep an ear out for any extra shifts at Happy Tails, although they know to always ask if the other walker can't do it. If she gets sick I might get a bit of extra work, but that sounds so mean."
"I know, love. I wouldn't wish anyone sick either. I haven't checked to see how much detergent is left. We might need more." The thought dampened my mood. Detergent was expensive which was why Edward made sure to always get some at the pantry.
He wandered to the shelf and took down the bottle, giving it a shake.
"I think we're good. There's plenty. We'll need more afterward though. How about some softener to make everything smell nice? There must be a cheap unbranded one we could buy as a treat just to use at the laundromat."
I had no idea.
"I'll have a look in Walmart when I go sort out the phone. Oh! I forgot to tell you about that."
I explained about the card system and that it would cost ten dollars. He sighed.
"I hoped we could just spend five, but I still think we need to do it. We'll manage, though. Are you okay to go? It's quite a bit further than Happy Tails and I couldn't take the dogs anyway."
I looked up, surprised.
"Of course I'll go. There's no way you're walking even further than you already do. And on an empty stomach, I might add." He blushed.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Just you, me, and a hot lunch at the kitchen. Sounds like heaven."
I put down my knife, wiped my hands, and stepped over to him. Flushed cheeks and soft eyes drew me in, powerless to resist. Who needed Christmas lights when Edward's eyes sparkled brighter still? Leaning in, I kissed him, long and slow, relishing the hitch in his breathing, the muffled whimper in his throat. Pulling back, I grinned at his dazed expression, the high spots of colour in his cheeks, his reddened lips, and knew I would do anything on this earth to protect him and make him proud of me. Straightening up, I saw him sway a little. I loved that.
The potatoes were soft enough to take off the heat. Sliding the pan onto the hotplate to heat the oil, I strained the potatoes and tipped them onto a plate to slice. When the oil was sizzling, I slid the thin slices into the pan and cooked them until they were crispy on the outside. Emptying the pan again, I cooked the chicken through before adding the peppers, greens, and onion. While I kept the contents moving, I noticed a sly hand reach for the hot potato slices. Turning my head, I met his mock-guilty expression with a wink.
"You could at least offer me one as well."
Giggling, he held one to my lips and I blew on it before biting a chunk from the delicious treat. Edward finished the slice, groaning his approval and it was just a couple of minutes later that the feast was ready: chicken stir fry topped off with slices of crispy potato. I might not be a master chef, but it tasted like culinary heaven to me. Edward was making his last by nibbling the crispy edges from each piece of potato first before eating the fluffy centre. I took that as a compliment.
Plates scraped clean, we relaxed, our stomachs full and warm. I grinned at Edward.
"Do you think there'll be cake tomorrow?"
Edward fell back on the bed, giggling.
"You always say that! I'm sure of it. Esme knows we're coming! Thinking of it, we must remember to return her cake tin."
I had the urge to go and check the tin in case there was any cake left, even though I knew there wasn't. Our Christmas food had been so good that I selfishly wanted more. Edward playfully nudged me with his knee.
"Stop thinking about it. I swear you're drooling!"
"It's too late! I'm a cake addict! There's no hope for me!" My hand pressed to my chest in dramatic fashion before Edward pulled me back onto the blankets, laughter claiming us both.
It felt good.
~o.O.o~
Much later that night when usually we'd be fast asleep, Edward was wide awake.
"Come on. Let's go for a walk. The wind's dropped and it's not long 'til midnight."
He jumped up from the bed, pulling me by the hand. His excitement was infectious. We pulled on our coats and scarves, clambering into our boots. I could feel his anticipation and it spurred me on. He had to be tired after his hard day, but our supper had revitalised him. I had also learned not to argue with him when his mind was made up.
It was fifteen minutes to midnight when we stepped out into the icy darkness. Reaching for my hand, Edward held me close while we took a slow, careful walk towards the brightly lit buildings in the next street over. My yawns were hidden by my scarf, yet Edward still noticed. He slid an arm around my waist and pulled me into him for a moment. My head slumped onto his shoulder and I felt him press a kiss to my forehead.
Dragging myself upright, we continued our slow walk among the Christmas lights, admiring them for the last time before they began to disappear with the arrival of the New Year. We headed in the general direction of the bars, guessing they might put on a show. Stumbling over the uneven ice, we could hear the crowds and the music at who knew how many parties. I couldn't imagine being alone again now. This was my first New Year with someone special, someone important in my life to share it with and a part of me wished we were out there celebrating on Navy Pier, or overlooking Lake Michigan with the majority of Chicago. Then again, our New Year was more intimate, more special to us just by being together to experience it.
Hearing the voices get louder, Edward checked his watch just as the revellers began counting down.
"…eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one…. Happy New Year!"
Drunken singing filled the air, Auld Lang Syne ringing in a fresh New Year, filled with hope and ambition. I didn't know the words to join in, but we swayed together, finding each other in a kiss of celebration on the empty street.
Then the skies were full of colour and noise. Like entranced children, we watched in awe until the finale faded, the sky bereft and filled only with smoky cloud, before turning for home.
Exhausted, we were asleep before the mattress had a chance to grow warm beneath us.
~o.O.o~
