Chapter 24: What Toby Does
Toby wakes after dark. Somehow and someway the cotton sheet no longer covers his nakedness. Valley is curled up at his knees and Karen is warm against his naked stomach. He listens to the air conditioner hum, knowing its ninety-two degrees out with a dome of humidity. He yawns, stretches in the bed, stirs “the girls” away because of his sudden movements, and decides to take a piss.
The stone bathroom on the Tudor’s second floor is a mix of granite, sandstone, and slate. Blacks, grays, and browns blend together within the small room. The miniscule sink sits to the left, the bathtub is to the right, and the American Standard toilet is straight back. There’s a window that hangs over the toilet and looks out into Denver’s backyard. One can look through it while sta
