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Show Woodworth/218 even matter to her that there's no such thing at Megan's room any more. "You can sleep in your old room. I changed the sheets," Ruth says, and puts her arms up as Megan leans over to kiss her good-night. All Marty can see is her sister's curved back, her nyloned legs, curvingup into the hem of her skirt, and her mother's arms. Ruth taps M\egan on the back with both hands. "I'm glad you're home," she says, her voice muffled behind Megan's body. "I'm glad to be here," Megan responds. "Good-^night, Daddy," fV\egan says, holding her arms open. Ned wraps his arms around her. "Night, night," he says, and kisses her hair. As if she's still a child. "I think I'm about ready myself," he says, and together they walk up stairs. "Me, too," Marty says. She stands and goes to her mother. Almost testing, aware of it. She leans over to be hugged. "Good-night, JV\om," she says. Ruth wraps nne arm around her. "Are you spending the night here?" Panic needles her- Of course. Why not? Why wouldn't Ruth assume that? "Is that ok?" she asks. "Of course," Ruth answers. "I just thought you'd want to go back to your own place." Now what's she thinking? That Marty would want to go back to her den of iniquity? Sometimes, she walks around and looks at the things Gary has touched or re-arranged that day, remembering what it was like to have him there. In this house, there is no one but Brownings and shadows of Brownings, sleeping in the beds, sitting in the chairs, pacing the carpets. But it's too late. Now Ruth is guilty, insistent. "Off uoui'SJb Lff want '#pu to stay, to sleep in your own bed. |