Lane was startled when she realized that Bonnie looked like her own twin. No, she thought, shes not a twin. Shes me. This is even better than I hoped. Kramerll think I came to him.
The Lane on Kramers bed opened her eyes. Dont worry, she said. Ill take care of him.
Lane woke up feeling as if a terrible burden had been removed. She didnt know why, but she felt good. Then she remembered the weird plan of her daydream. It had only been a fantasy. Nothing was changed. Her spirits sank and dread returned to its nesting place in the pit of her stomach.
She looked at the clock beside her bed. Almost one.
Shed been asleep for a long time, and she was glad. If only she could just stayasleep.
But she was hungry. So she got out of bed, put on her robe and slippers, and left the room.
The house seemed deserted.
But the door to her fathers office was shut. She knocked. Opening it, she glimpsed a page of black and white photos as Dad swept a folder shut. He smiled at her, but he looked startled and his face was red.
She wondered what hed been looking at. Whatever it might be, he seemed ashamed of it. She decided not to ask. Sorry to bother you, she said.
No problem. Feeling any better?
A little. Hungry, though. Have you already eaten?
Yeah. We had lunch an hour ago. Do you want me to make you something?
No, thats okay. I can manage. Wheres Mom?
She went to the store. We decided to ask Pete and Barbara over for dinner, so she had to pick up a few things.
Barbaras recovered?
Apparently. Your mother dropped in on her. Sounds as if shes a little embarrassed about her accident, but shes eager to resume the adventure. Petes already picked up a new video camera.
Lets hope Barbara doesnt break this one.
She probably wont get her hands on it.
If Petes smart. What time are they coming over?
Around six.
If Im not around, make sure you get me up. I wouldnt want to miss anything.
Youre sure about that?
Absolutely. See you later. She pulled the door shut and went to the kitchen.
While she made herself a grilled cheese sandwich, she thought back to the folder that Dad had shut so quickly. She tried to remember the look of the paper inside. Glossy, with two or three pictures on it.
Like a page out of Buford Memories.
Oh, boy, she muttered. He mustve torn it from the 1968 annual. And there had appeared to be more than one in that folder.
Pictures of Bonnie. Hed been studying pictures of Bonnie. God, if ol lady Swanson ever found out... I wouldve been in such deep shit... How could he do that to me?
Pete had called him obsessed. Right here in the kitchen, when Dad was talking about his weird dreams.
Obsessed, all right.
Lane slid her sandwich onto a paper plate. She took it to the table and sat down.
Dad just wanted the pictures for his book, she told herself as she started to eat. Nothing weird about that. He looked so guilty in there because he stole them from the yearbook, doesnt want me to find out. Thats all.
Maybe that isnt all. Hes been dreaming about her. Walking in his sleep. He went out there to pay her a visit.
Lane remembered the way shed found him staring at the naked corpse. What if he isobsessed with her? Maybe he wants her to be a vampire, wants to see her change back into a beautiful girl, wants to...
Come on. This is Dad, not Kramer. Dad wouldnt...
The things he was saying to her. But he was asleep. He was talking to her in his dream. Awake, he wouldnt...
Awake, ten minutes ago, he was staring at her pictures. What was he thinking? Was he wondering what it might be like if she comes back to life tonight?
Hes just a man.
No, hes not. Hes Dad. Hes doing this for his book, not because hes horny over a high school girl.
Lane couldnt finish her sandwich. She threw the remains away, took a drink of water, and hurried back to her bedroom. She shut the door. She tossed her robe across a chair. She kicked her slippers off. She drew the covers up around her neck, curled on her side and hugged her belly.
Dad isnt like that, she told herself. Hes not a pervert. He loves me and Mom.
He even told Bonnie that he loves us.
The way someone might say it to his mistress.
He claimed he loved us, but he went ahead and started to pull the stake.
He was asleep, for godsake!
But what if I hadnt been up there?
The girl is dead, Lane told herself. Shes dead. Shes not a vampire. She wouldnt have come back to life. Thats bullshit, and Dad knows it.
Thats the end of it.
But maybe...
She started to recite an Our Father, softly mumbling the words. To stop herself from thinking. To calm herself down. She did another Our Father, not speaking this time, going through it in her mind. And then another.
A gentle rapping on the door woke her up. She rolled onto her back as the door eased open. Dad looked in. Are Pete and Barbara here? she asked.
Not yet. But you have a visitor.
Was she asleep? came a voice from the hallway behind Dad.
Lane lost her breath.
Shes awake now, Dad said.
Really, Kramer said, there was no need to disturb her.
Thats all right, Dad said over his shoulder as he entered the room. It was time to get her up, anyway. Were having some other guests pretty soon. He gestured for Kramer to come in.
Daaaad.
Whats the matter?
Im in bed.
Im dreaming this.
If shed rather...
Its fine. Shes just doing her shy routine.
Kramer came into the room.
Hes in my bedroom. The bastards in my bedroom.
Lane tried to force herself to smile.
Kramers smile looked tentative and concerned. I just dropped by to see how you were doing. I hope you didnt catch a bug, or something, while we were at the play Saturday night.
Wasnt a bug, she thought.
He stepped around Dad and approached the bed. He had a manila folder in one hand. Like the one in which Dad kept his pictures of Bonnie. Just in case you might be down for a while, he said, I thought Id bring you this weeks assignments.
Thank you, she muttered.
Thats very nice of you, Hal, Dad told him.
Kramer smiled back at him. Wouldnt want my ace student to fall behind. He set the folder down on her nightstand. How are you feeling? he asked her.
Not very swift.
Im sorry to hear that. Do you think youll be up and around?..
Far away, the telephone rang.
Id better get that, Dad said. Jeans taking a bath.
He left the room.
I dont believe this, Lane thought. Its a nightmare.
Kramer sat on the edge of the bed and smiled down at her. Obviously, youve kept our little secret.
She nodded. She didnt think she couldtalk.
Thats very good, darling. But Im not happy about you staying home today. I missed you. He slipped a hand beneath the covers. Staring into her eyes, he gently squeezed her right breast. You missed me, too, didnt you?
Lane gasped for breath. She shuddered.
Kramer laughed softly. He glanced toward the open door, then fixed his gaze on her face and moved his hand down the front of her nightshirt.
She choked out, Dont.
Shhhh. Ive got a sharp friend in my pocket. His hand found her bare skin below the rumpled jersey. Lane pressed her legs together. But his hand pressed between them. She started to whimper. I could easily slash your throat in an instant. And then do the same to your father. And your mother. Shes taking a bath. That might be fun.