Corday thought a minute. "I've got a car right outside. I'll drive you back to Bird Song so you can look it up."
Dean showed his irritation. "Look. It's two hours later in Indiana. I don't want a gang of storm troopers invading my mother-in-law's house at midnight to ask my wife a few simple questions. I gave you the phone number when you asked for it, didn't I? Now you can wait until morning for the address. Come by after nine and I'll give it to you." He continued to sip his beer, then added, "Besides, you shouldn't be drinking and driving." Corday tossed two dollars on the bar and rose without a word. He left his beer untouched. Dean drank it.
After trying Cynthia one more time, he gave up and returned to Bird Song. Donald Ryland and Franny were on the front porch. She was finishing a cigarette.
"You should give those things up," Dean said. "I hear they stunt your growth."
Franny laughed. "Maybe I will. Now that I'm going to be a weekend ma, I shouldn't be puffing around kids."
Dean followed them back inside. Ryland sported a black eye but, in spite of it, was smiling.
"I wasn't going to hit him," Franny said, "but I couldn't help it. At least I did it quietly." She gave his arm a squeeze. Ryland looked relieved that the shiner was the extent of his injuries.
"Peace prevails?" Dean asked.
"Yup. We even had it out with Miss Bed-hopper. You should have seen the look on her face when she came a calling in her antique duds and found me there! I thought she'd shit! She looked as if she could kill Donald!"
Everyone else was apparently asleep as Bird Song was as quiet as a tomb. Only Mrs. Lincoln roamed the halls, purring for a pat, as Franny and Ryland walked hand in hand to his room. Dean was sure the young woman's promise of a platonic night was already forgotten.
Dean read before going to bed, earlier than usual. He worried about not hearing from Cynthia, but there was little he could do. He turned out the light. Dorvad the lazy mate hopelessly missed his Queen Sinthee.