Bill Bryson At Home Novels & Stories

"You've been weird all night." "I'm fine. Just tired." "If you say so." He doesn't push, which I'm grateful for. We work in mostly silence, cleaning up the mess. The house feels bigger and emptier without all the noise and bodies filling it. I'm wiping down the kitchen counter when the front door opens. Bryson walks back in, looking around until he spots me. "Forgot my jacket," he explains, heading toward the couch where a hoodie is draped over the armrest. Tyler glances between us. "I'm gonna grab more trash bags from the garage. Be right back."

We were in one of his living rooms watching television together. Bryson was true to his word. He had set me up in one of the best guest rooms in the pack house. That did not mean I was happy being there, though. Bryson had a wife and kids who lived in the pack house with them. Although I had no interest in him, they didn’t seem to like me very much. “I’m not interested,” I told him, taking a sip of the orange juice in my hand. “Why not? I could make your life better than Jackson can. I’ll even help your family. Besides, I have more power, money and I’m better looking than your mate.”

It was morning. The morning went as it would usually. The maids and the male servants had everything tidied and cleaned. Breakfast was done hours ago. Bowman was only walking around his home without much purpose. That was his wait for his flight back to the UK in afternoon. Bowman had a glass of water in his hand. He had just swallowed his tablets—tablets for back pains since the loss of his son. He was heading towards the living room when the front door opened—

He let out a breath, "Are you sure you want to sleep at your house?" "Yeah! I'm sure! Why do you ask?" Betty asked in confusion. "It's nothing!" Bryson hung up the phone after he finished speaking. At the same time, his slender body entered the car, he started up the car and rushed out of the villa. Betty was currently sitting on the sofa, her assistant Diya had packed up a meal for her and also brought over a milk tea that she liked. She felt that tonight would be a peaceful and enjoyable night for her.

Looking at me like a statue, he said nothing, just collected it before replying, “You don’t need to go to such lengths. It’s not worth it.” I didn’t understand what he meant, but anyway, I still traced him back home. I couldn’t afford to pay for his info anymore—I had to do it myself. Walking a reasonable distance behind Bryan, I knew he would be going home since today was Wednesday and he wouldn’t be meeting up with the rest of the Big Six. As Bryan got to his home, which wasn’t a dorm but a penthouse, I watched him get into the building. He even had a private elevator, fully visible with glass everywhere. I could practically see everything from where I stood until he got into the building.

“You really ought to go home and get some rest.” Bryony accepted the peach and bit into it, careful to keep the juice from running into her rag doll stitches. “This is delicious. Thank you so much. I think I miss Eddie, and I’m tired of . . . everything. I miss my father. I think I might be homesick, but I’ve never been happier anywhere other than here. Is that not strange?” Before the old woman could answer, Bryony heard somebody calling her name. She turned to look and there was Peter, his cheeks still flush from his most recent kill, although of course nobody else knew that. He just looked robust and happy to be in the pleasant Northwest weather.

I thought I was going to enjoy my Sunday alone, watching movies and obviously sleeping in the afternoon, seems I was in for a shocker. Bryson had called me, demanding my presence at the mansion, he refused to tell me why he needed me there. His parents were out of the country, so I didn't get why he would bother me during my day off. They were always going for business trips. Even when they were around, they'd spent most of their time working. So mostly it was just their two boys and well me. Before they left, they had asked me to move into their place, they weren't happy with the fact that I commuting to and fro on a daily basis.

I did feel horrible for him and how his life had turned out, but I couldn't excuse him for his cannibalism desires. I had finally finished my chores close to dinner time. I was heading upstairs to try and freshen up before dinner when I saw Brian standing at my door. "Millie there you are my dear. Were are you going?" He asked smiling at me with that same charming smile that I didn't really tug at my heart at all.

Bryce nervously tucked the piece of paper in his trouser pocket and poured himself a full glass of French Martini which he gulped down hastily before rising up to his feet. "Thanks for the meal, Mrs Brown. I would like to get going now,” Bryce said while trying to hold himself together. "Wh...What? Why! Where?" Mrs Brown asked out of curiosity and blinked countless times. "Hum... I'm going back home " he said slowly. "But you promised to keep Alex company till next week, didn't you?" Mrs Brown asked. "I just want to check on mum. That's all" Bryce replied. "She is fine. You know, I just spoke with her this morning, no need to be in a hurry, dear" Mrs Brown said.