i do n't think she expected to see me walking in the door . they knew about his wife and two kids but felt it wasnt really any of their business . he closed the shut-off valve feeding the tank and went down to the front desk . they scampered off excitedly , and he reached out and gently brushed my hair away from my face . i sit on my small leather couch and pat the cushion next to me . it smells like something old and awful . 