Chapter 20 - Reid’s New Apartment
Perry visited Reid’s downtown apartment for the first time after overnight visitation resumed.
He looked around.
“One bedroom?”
Reid had moved to a two-bedroom by then.
“Two.”
“Mine?”
“One is yours when you’re here.”
Perry stared.
“Not closet?”
Reid closed eyes.
“No.”
Then:
“Door locks?”
“Bathroom locks for privacy. Bedroom doesn’t lock from outside.”
Perry tested.
Open.
Close.
Open.
Fine.
Then he noticed dinosaur night-light.
Same model Constance bought.
His face changed.
Reid saw.
“I can remove it.”
Perry thought.
“No.”
“Sure?”
“It’s dinosaur.”
That was it.
Objects can be reclaimed.
Then bedtime.
Perry came out twice.
Water.
Bathroom.
Third time:
“Can’t sleep.”
Reid’s old instinct probably screamed:
Stay in room.
Instead:
“Want couch for ten minutes?”
“Yes.”
They sat.
Then Perry returned voluntarily.
No locked door.
No training.
Nothing dramatic.
May you like
When Reid told me afterward, he did not ask for praise.
Good.
