In the dark, Vincent eased the front door back into the closed position as quietly as he could. He hung his coat on the free hook in the closet and slipped his shoes off. It was well past 11:00. After getting the Lees settled, he had opted once again for a ground transport.
Tiptoeing, he made his way into the living room. As he had expected, the television was still playing with the volume turned all the way up, and Jessica was fast asleep on the couch. Smiling, Vincent crossed over to her and pulled the blanket at her feet up to her shoulders. The bulge of Jessica’s stomach rose the blanket up in the middle like a miniature tent. Vincent smiled again, then found his mouth opening in a long, deep yawn. He would need rest for tomorrow, real rest. The allure of sleeping here was almost undeniable, was undeniable most of the time. If he stayed, he would likely awaken rested as normal – he was being given the most advanced treatment available, after all. But he didn’t want to take any chances. He had to be refreshed, completely present tomorrow morning. He would go back, just for a little while.
Vincent kissed his hand and rested it on Jessica’s stomach over the blanket. Then, with a double glance up and to the right, the couch and television and entire house disappeared. He was back in his room. Yawning once again, he lay down on his plain white mattress, in his plain white nightclothes, and he slept.