The Perfect Bride

Chapter Five

“We need to talk about Jillian Jones.”

After waiting for hours to speak with Meredith, Adam didn’t wait for her to close the office door behind her before launching into the topic.

Meredith shot him an exasperated look. “What is it now?”

“I caught her in the tower bedroom last night. The one Courtney Miller was staying in.”

The clarification wasn’t necessary, Meredith’s gaze dimming before he offered it. She knew full well where Courtney Miller had been staying. She was the one who’d put her there, a fact he knew she still felt guilty about, though it certainly wasn’t her fault the woman hadn’t had enough sense not to venture out onto a balcony in a fierce wind and tumble off of it.

“I thought it was locked,” she murmured.

Adam swallowed a twinge of guilt. “I must have forgotten to lock it the last time I went to check that everything was cleared out.”

Meredith’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, and he knew exactly what she was thinking. He never “forgot” to do things. It was something he took a great deal of pride in.

She evidently decided to let the issue pass. “What was she doing there?” she asked.

“Nosing around. Said she was curious.”

“Well, you can hardly blame her for that. Honestly, I think it would be more suspicious if she wasn’t.”

It was exactly what Jillian Jones had said, Adam remembered with no small irritation. And both she and his sister were right. The fact that Jillian claimed not to care that another bride had recently died in the place she herself intended to be married had struck him as suspicious. If anything, the revelation that she wasn’t quite so indifferent to that information should serve as a relief of some kind.

Instead, their encounter had only left him more wary of the woman than ever. The fact that she’d had a flashlight meant she’d specifically intended to snoop around when she came here. There was no other reason for her to bring one, or simply happen to have one in her luggage. And when he’d confronted her, she hadn’t been at all embarrassed or remorseful at having been caught in the middle of the night somewhere she had no right to be. She hadn’t backed down in the least, dodging every accusation and doing her best to turn the tables on him. She was smart, she was a fighter and she was determined.

Under different circumstances he might have respected that. She was a worthy adversary.

At the moment, an adversary was the last thing he needed, especially a worthy one. She wasn’t going to be scared off easily.

The image of how she’d looked rose in his mind. Shoulders squared, spine straight, her green eyes flashing fire as she’d faced him.

A far different spark in those eyes, her supple mouth pursed gently, as she peered up at him, mere inches away...

She’d been dressed for bed, in a thin white T-shirt and loose cotton pants that clung to her hips. She should have looked small, vulnerable. She hadn’t. Even with the wind filling the room, blowing the clothes against her body so that every curve, every tempting swell, was clearly outlined, she’d looked strong. Determined.

Tempting as hell.



“What is this really about?”

Adam jerked his head up, the words snapping him out of his thoughts. “What do you mean?”

Meredith folded her arms over her chest. “Jillian’s been here less than twenty-four hours and I haven’t heard you talk about anything else since she arrived.”

“Because I don’t trust her.”

“Is that really what it is?”

“What are you suggesting?” he said, already suspecting he knew, unease crawling up the nape of his neck.

“She’s a very attractive woman.”

Meredith didn’t have to elaborate. He had no trouble picking up on the implication. Maybe because the same notion had been percolating in the back of his mind, bubbling just beneath the surface.

“You’re imagining things.”

“Am I? It’s been years since I’ve heard you talk this much about any woman. In fact, I don’t actually remember you ever talking this much about a woman.”

That was because he hadn’t, Adam acknowledged reluctantly. He’d always been so consumed with work he’d never had time for anything serious, and never met a woman who’d made him want to change that.

“She’s getting married,” he said, unable to keep the hint of irony from his tone.

“You seem to have your doubts about that,” Meredith pointed out. “Or is it because you don’t want her to be?”

“No, because that would make her a liar and a fraud, and we’d have a much bigger problem on our hands.”

“Actually, I think that would be less of a problem than you being interested in a woman who’s very much attached and who came here to get married.”

“Trust me, my only interest in her is why she’s really here.”

Even as he said it, he knew it was a lie.

If he was right, then he was attracted to a woman who was a liar, and probably worse. If he wasn’t, then he was attracted to a woman who was completely off-limits. He wasn’t going to chase after a woman who was marrying someone else.

Either way, he had no business thinking about her at all.

From the look on her face, Meredith didn’t believe him any more than he did. He waited for her to call him on it, but she didn’t.

“Good. Then we don’t have a problem.”

“Unless she gives us one.”

“It’s fine,” she said firmly. “Everything is going to be fine.”

Adam almost wondered how she could be capable of such optimism and hope after everything she’d been through.

The words were definitive, but Adam caught the barely noticeable tremor in her voice, the slightly tremulous quality of the smile she worked up. He knew her too well. He knew deep down she was trying to convince herself as much as she was him, as though if she tried hard enough, she could will it to be true. Because she wanted everything to work out, needed it to for reasons he understood all too well.

He would give anything to make it true.

But every instinct told him he couldn’t, any more than he had in the past. At least this time he could keep her from getting hurt.

Even as part of him wondered if there was any chance he would be more successful at that than he’d been before.

* * *

UNABLE TO SHRUG off her wedding-planning duties any earlier without it looking suspicious, Jillian waited until lunch to announce she intended to drive into town, saying she wanted to explore the area a bit.

“I can come with you,” Meredith offered. “I could show you some spots you might want to know about so you can point them out to your wedding guests as places to visit.”

“That’s all right,” Jillian said. “I think I’d like to try to get a feel for the area on my own.”



“Of course,” Meredith said, forcing a smile. Jillian didn’t miss the worry the woman could barely conceal. Was she concerned Jillian wouldn’t come back? Jillian wondered if Meredith was aware her brother was trying to scare her off, or if she had other reasons to be worried. It was just another of the mysteries at Sutton Hall, and Jillian already had enough of those to unravel.

She left midafternoon, finding her way to the garage where her rental car had been parked. The tension tightening the back of her shoulders eased slightly as she drove away. She glanced back in the rearview mirror once. The mansion completely filled the reflective surface, looming as large as ever. It didn’t look as dark and gloomy as it did up close, but Jillian still felt unsettled as she took it in. Only when the trees blocked it did the mansion finally disappear from view. The instant it did, an involuntary sigh eased from Jillian’s lungs. Inhaling deeply, she turned her focus to the road.

The town of Hawthorne was located a few miles down the road at the base of the mountain. Jillian hadn’t paid much attention to it on her way through the day before, too intent on reaching her destination. This time she made a point to study her surroundings as she entered the town limits. It was even smaller than she’d realized, but utterly charming, with a comfortable small-town feel. The buildings that lined the main street were large and older, classic in style. She wouldn’t have been surprised to learn they’d all been standing for more than a century, all beautifully maintained.

Spotting the library, Jillian parked out front and made her way inside. The building was quiet as she entered, even more than she would have expected for a library. The only person in view was the woman behind the front desk. Appearing to be in her fifties, with a head of brown curls and half-rimmed glasses, she looked up and smiled at Jillian’s approach.

“Hi there,” Jillian said. “I’m hoping you can help me. I’m interested in doing some research on Sutton Hall.”

The woman’s expression didn’t change, but Jillian didn’t miss the way her smile seemed to tighten slightly. “What kind of research?”

“My name is Jillian Jones. I’m going to be getting married there and would love to learn more about the place. The new owners have told me a little, but I’m sure there’s more they don’t know about since they’re fairly new to the place themselves. I thought I might try to do some research on my own.”

With every word, the woman’s smile had tightened further. By the time Jillian finished her explanation, it couldn’t have looked more forced. “How nice,” the woman said faintly. “You must be so excited. Are your friends and family up there with you preparing for the big day?”



“No, it’s just me at the moment.”

The woman’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh, so you’re...all alone out there.”

The way she said it sent a shiver down Jillian’s spine, reminding her all too well how true it was. “Well, not exactly,” she made herself say. “The Suttons and the rest of the staff are there, too, of course.”

“Of course,” the woman echoed flatly.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Jillian said. “And yes, I am aware of the death that happened there recently, so you don’t have to tell me about that.”

The look on the woman’s face said she clearly needed to if Jillian was dismissing it that easily.

As if realizing she hadn’t said anything for far too long, the woman straightened with a start. “All right,” she said finally. She motioned toward a nearby table. “Why don’t we have a seat and I’ll tell you what I can.”

“That sounds great,” Jillian replied, not having to fake her eagerness. She’d thought the woman might point her to some reference materials, but this was better. Especially since some of the things she wanted to know were unlikely to be in any books.

With a nod, Jillian moved toward the table, glancing around the room as she made her way there. There didn’t seem to be any other patrons at the moment, luckily enough for her since it gave the woman time to talk.

The librarian followed Jillian to the table, taking the seat across from her with a clear view to keep an eye on the door. “I’m Emma, by the way,” she said, introducing herself.

“I’m glad to meet you,” Jillian said honestly. “The folks at Sutton Hall haven’t been all that talkative.”

“I’m not surprised,” Emma confessed. “The folks up there have always kept to themselves. Has to be odd for them to have strangers around.”

“I can understand that. But I’m still fascinated by the place and would love to find out everything I can about it.”

The librarian pursed her lips, considering. “All right. Well, let’s see...Sutton Hall was built in 1874 by Hugh Sutton, a manufacturing tycoon who owned a number of factories throughout New England. Jacob Sutton, the last owner before the current ones, was Hugh’s great-grandson. He was an only child, and he and his wife never had children, which is why the place was inherited by Adam and Meredith, who are descendants of one of Hugh’s other sons.”

“I heard Jacob’s wife died in a car accident,” Jillian said.

“That’s right. About twenty-five years ago. It was during a winter storm. Her car went right off the road and over the edge of the mountain. It took some time to reach the car and get her body out. Jacob blamed himself. They were supposed to be traveling together. He should have been in the car with her.”

“Did he think he could have done a better job driving in the storm?”

“Or he thought he could have died with her. It often seemed like he wished he had. The way he lived the rest of his life, I’m not sure he didn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“He never really left Sutton Hall after that. He sold off most of his business interests. As far as I know, he didn’t work. He didn’t have to, of course. Between his investments and the family fortune, I’m sure he had more than enough to live on for far longer than he did.”

Jillian had already thought Jacob Sutton’s story was sad, but the more she heard about him the more tragic it seemed. “Rosie mentioned that he seldom had guests. I guess I didn’t realize just how reclusive he’d become.”

“He hadn’t been seen in town in more than twenty years, though a few people who went up to the house for various reasons saw him. They said he was practically wasting away, a shadow of the man he’d once been. I don’t think anyone was surprised to hear he’d died.”

“I heard he might have gone a little...crazy in his last few years?”

The woman’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “I’m guessing you heard that from Zack.”

“How’d you know?”

Emma grimaced. “If anyone was liable to tell you that, it’s him. The rest of them up there are all too loyal, and Zack likes to talk. Most of what I’ve heard about Jacob in the last years of his life started with Zack talking here in town and word getting around. But, yes, from what I hear Jacob spent most of his days sitting on the balcony of one of the tower rooms, the one that looks out over the road leading up the mountain. He’d just sit there and stare, as if he was still watching for her, waiting for her to come back.”

The balcony of the tower room that looks out over the road leading up the mountain. Jillian didn’t need her to tell her which one that was, as a prickle of unease raised goose bumps on her arms. It was the one with the best view in the house.

The one that Courtney had fallen from...

No wonder Zack hadn’t wanted to tell her about it.

“He must have really loved her,” Jillian managed to say.

Emma smiled sadly. “I’d say so. A few years after Kathleen died, someone in town asked him if he’d considered finding a new wife. He said, ‘A Sutton man loves forever.’ I guess that’s true. All the Sutton men going back to old Hugh were only married once and stayed married to their wives until one of them passed away.”

A Sutton man loves forever. Jillian wondered idly if that was really true for all Sutton men, including the one currently living there....

As soon as she realized where her thoughts were going, she put a quick end to them. Adam Sutton’s romantic loyalty hardly mattered, and certainly wasn’t something she had any reason to be interested in.

“Did you know her?” Jillian asked, more curious than ever about the woman she knew only as the bride in the portrait at Sutton Hall, a woman capable of inspiring such devotion. “Kathleen Sutton?”

“Not personally. I saw her in town a few times. I remember she was very beautiful. And everyone seemed to think well of her. Practically the whole town mourned when she died.”

All of this was interesting, but it wasn’t getting Jillian to what she really needed to know: what had happened to Courtney, and who might be responsible.

“What about the staff?” Jillian asked. “Meredith said she and her brother kept on all of the people who’d been working there when Jacob Sutton died. I guess it was just the four of them—Grace, Rosie, Ed and Ray?”

“That’s true. That was nice of them to do that. They didn’t have to, and I’m sure they could have found younger people to handle the more strenuous jobs, especially Ed and Ray’s. But those four have been there so long, I’m not sure where any of them would have gone.”

Jillian could sense the woman being diplomatic, her words carefully couched, a wealth of unspoken thought behind them. “You don’t like them,” Jillian challenged to get her to cut to the chase.

Emma’s eyes widened in surprise, but Jillian didn’t miss how she didn’t exactly rush to deny it. “I wouldn’t say that,” she said slowly. “I can’t say I really know them. No one does. I mean, to live and work out there all these years, in such an isolated place. I suppose it takes an...unusual kind of person to do that. People thought Jacob was odd for becoming a recluse. But the truth is, none of the rest of them is all that different. They all keep to themselves out there just as much.”

The woman’s comments only confirmed Jillian’s own impressions of the Sutton Hall staff. “What can you tell me about them?”

“Well, there’s Grace, of course. Before the new owners arrived, she was pretty much in charge of the place. Even when Jacob was alive, anyone who had any business out there got the sense she was the real boss. He basically left her to run it as she saw fit.”

“I’m guessing she wasn’t too happy to have a couple of strangers inherit and take over Sutton Hall.”

“I can’t imagine she was, not that I’ve ever heard her say anything. Grace has never been overly chatty. Or maybe there’s nobody in town she figures is worth her time to talk to,” she added under her breath.

“She doesn’t have any friends or family nearby?”

“Not that I know of. Grace isn’t originally from the area. I’m not sure where she’s from actually. She came to Sutton Hall with Kathleen when she married Jacob. I think she must have worked for Kathleen before. She was just a maid then. After Kathleen died and most of the staff left for whatever reason, Grace gradually seemed to take charge, until she was running the place.”

Jillian tried to picture Grace as a fresh-faced young woman arriving at Sutton Hall as a mere maid. She couldn’t manage it. Every trace of that young woman seemed long gone, leaving a woman who gave every appearance of being as much an institution as the place itself. “And she’s been there all this time? Never married or had a family of her own?”

“No. She’s been there for thirty years. I’ve never heard talk of her seeing anybody or anything. She just stayed out there.”

“What about Ed and Rosie?”

“They aren’t from around here, either. They showed up about twenty-five years ago when Jacob was looking for a new cook. Rosie interviewed for the job, and Ed managed to talk his way into getting hired as a caretaker, which was sorely needed. From the sound of it, Ed was the only one keeping the place standing. He must have done a great job of it. After they took over, the younger Suttons hired some people to work on renovating and restoring the place, and it didn’t take them long, only a few months. From what I heard, there wasn’t that much work that needed doing, much less than anyone would have thought, which has to be one reason the Suttons kept Ed on, as well as Rosie to cook.”

“Their marriage doesn’t seem all that happy.”

Emma shrugged. “I wouldn’t know much about that. Like I said, they tend to keep to themselves up there at the house. Neither of them became all that friendly with anyone in town, even after all these years.”

“What about Ray? Zack said his mother left them?”

“That’s right. Zack was just a boy then, maybe three or four. Carolyn took off one day. Ray said she left a note saying she wanted something else from her life and was leaving to find it, and that was that. I can’t say I was surprised. Just about everyone knew Carolyn didn’t like living out there. Not many could blame her for that. It’s so secluded out there, and I’m sure it had to be lonely, especially during the winter whenever they got snowed in, with only Ray and Zack to talk to, and maybe Rosie. Can’t imagine her and Grace being all that close. Those two were complete opposites.”

“She didn’t try to take Zack?”

“Carolyn...wasn’t really the mothering type.” Emma lowered her voice. “Truth be told, the main reason she and Ray got married was because she was pregnant, and there was talk about whether Ray was really Zack’s father.”

“Did they ever hear from her again?”

“Not that I ever heard. She never returned to the area, and word never got back about where she ended up.”

Jillian could understand why Zack was so jaded. Not only had the woman walked away from her commitment to her marriage, her duty as a mother apparently hadn’t meant much to her, either. It wasn’t surprising he might have issues with women. Ray, too, for that matter.

“Ray never remarried?” she asked.

“No. I can’t think of him seeing anyone after Carolyn was gone. He just raised Zack and kept working up there, about near becoming as reclusive as the rest of them.”

“I get the feeling Zack thinks he’s quite the ladies’ man.”

Emma smiled wryly. “I think it’s the young ladies in the area who give him that impression. I’m sure you’ve noticed he’s quite handsome. From what I can tell, he’s been able to have his pick of female company, and he’s taken full advantage of that. A real love-’em-and-leave-’em type. I guess he’s more like his mother than his father in that regard. And he’s always been talking about leaving the area, so I guess there’s that, too. He actually did move to Boston last year, but he came back a few months ago.”

That seemed strange, since he didn’t seem all that enthused about working at Sutton Hall. “Why did he come back?”

“Nobody knows. As much as he likes to talk, he’s been real tight-lipped about that. Guess it didn’t work out for him in the city.”

This was exactly the kind of stuff Jillian had hoped to learn, inside information on the people at Sutton Hall that might help her better understand who they were and what made them tick. It had also come a lot easier than she’d expected.

Jillian surveyed the librarian carefully, trying to get more of a sense of who she was exactly. Her tone wasn’t exactly gossipy, more matter-of-fact than anything, but she certainly wasn’t sparing many details. “I appreciate the information, but I have to admit, I’m a little surprised you’re sharing so much about these people’s private lives with a complete stranger.”

Emma lowered her eyes briefly. “If you’re going to be married there, I suppose it’s only fair you know about the people up there.”

Jillian frowned, suspicion nudging at the back of her mind. Most people wouldn’t think it was necessary to learn about the personal lives of the staff handling a wedding. Unless... “I saw your reaction when I told you I was getting married there. Be honest with me. Do you think there’s some reason I shouldn’t?”

“I wouldn’t say that....”

Jillian bit back her impatience, wishing the woman would just spit out what she would say. “Tell me, what do you think happened to the woman who died there?”



Emma hesitated, the pause so noticeable it was almost answer enough. “They said it was an accident,” she said carefully.

“But what do you think?” Jillian pressed.

Emma slowly licked her lips, not quite meeting Jillian’s eyes. “It’s just...my husband always said that to live out there, all isolated like that, it’s almost like the folks out there were hiding from the world. And you have to wonder exactly why it is they’re hiding.... And the idea of that woman just falling from a balcony... It’s kind of hard to imagine.”

Yes, it is, Jillian thought, anger stirring in her gut.

“On the other hand, it was a windy night,” Emma conceded. “Being that high up, she could have gotten too close, maybe gotten disoriented. Maybe it was an accident. Without any proof otherwise, the police couldn’t say it wasn’t. I really can’t, either.”

I can, Jillian thought, more certain than ever.

Perhaps misreading Jillian’s expression, Emma leaned forward and met her eyes. “I’m not trying to scare you off, believe me. It would be good for the town if the Suttons were able to get this wedding business going. They’ve talked about hiring part-time workers as needed and people around here could use those jobs, and it would generate a lot of revenue for local businesses. Which is just more reason why I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“But you think there’s enough of a chance of that happening that you wanted to warn me?”

“No...” Emma shook her head. “I’m probably just being foolish. Look, I hope your wedding goes perfectly and is everything you dream of. But there’s always been something a little strange about that place and the folks up there. So it couldn’t hurt to be careful. Watch out for yourself. Just in case...”

* * *

IT WAS GETTING dark when Jillian finally left the library. She continued to turn Emma’s words over in her mind as she started the drive back to Sutton Hall.

Knowing that even one person thought there was something suspicious about Courtney’s death, someone who didn’t have a personal stake in it, gave her fresh confidence that she wasn’t wrong. Something had happened to Courtney, something that may have been done to her by one of the people at Sutton Hall.

You have to wonder exactly why it is they’re hiding....

Emma’s words could have been nothing more than small-town suspicions of outsiders, people who chose to live separate from the rest. And maybe that was part of it. Except Jillian had already been wondering what secrets the Sutton Hall staff were hiding even before she’d spoken to the woman.

And it wasn’t just the staff. It was the Suttons themselves. Emma knew even less about them, but they were mysteries just as much as the people who worked for them. Meredith Sutton, with her nervousness and skittish eyes.

Adam Sutton, with his dark warnings and cool aloofness.

A mystery she had to solve, even as the thought of the man sent a little tremor through her.

She’d just turned onto the winding road leading up the mountain to Sutton Hall when the engine began to sputter. Frowning, she glanced down in confusion at the instrument panel. The light illuminating it began to flicker, the gauges starting to waver, then dip ominously. She didn’t even have time to consider steering the car onto the side of the road before it came to a complete stop.

She sat there in confusion for a few moments, not understanding what had just happened. With numb fingers, she reached out, turned off the ignition, then tried to start it again.

The engine chugged, groaned and refused to turn over.

A few more tries only yielded the same result. The car wasn’t going anywhere.

It had been running fine on the way into town, not to mention on the long drive from the airport yesterday. Suspicion sparked in the back of her mind. Was it possible someone had tampered with it? But for what reason?

Maybe to do exactly what had happened and strand her alone in the middle of nowhere, she thought with a flicker of unease. She stared at the long, dark road before her, then back toward the stretch she’d just come down. She couldn’t see anything up ahead in either direction but trees and road. Darkness was falling quickly, long shadows already stretching across the pavement. It wouldn’t be long before it was completely black out here.

Suppressing a shudder, she pulled out her cell phone and checked for a signal.

Nothing.

Of course. She grimaced. She was out in the country, on a mountain of all things. Cell phone coverage was probably the last thing she should be counting on.

Grabbing her bag, she climbed out of the car. Raising the phone in front of her, she turned in a slow circle, trying to get even a hint of a signal. After turning around several times and failing to summon a single bar, she had to concede it wasn’t going to happen.

Lowering the phone, Jillian glanced in either direction again, trying to gauge whether she was closer to town or Sutton Hall at this point. Either way, it seemed unlikely she could count on anyone happening by anytime soon. In the meantime, the road somehow seemed even darker than it had been moments before, the pavement barely visible, the night closing in around her.

Naturally she’d left her flashlight back in her room, never thinking she’d need it.

She wondered how long it would be before anyone came looking for her.

If they came looking for her.

Either way, she couldn’t stand there forever. There was probably more of a chance she’d encounter a vehicle on the main road than on the one to Sutton Hall. She’d be better off heading back into town and hoping someone passed by.

She was about to start in that direction when lights suddenly swept over her, followed quickly by the sound of an approaching engine. Foreboding prickling the skin at the nape of her neck, she glanced up.

It looked like a car, coming up on the road. She could barely make out its details in the darkness.

She wondered if the driver saw her, if she needed to flag his or her attention....

Or if she even wanted to, she suddenly thought with a trace of nervousness. Maybe it was no coincidence the car had appeared on this lonely stretch of road so soon after hers broke down. Whoever it was, the driver had her all alone out here....

Before she could shake her doubts and decide what to do, the car began to slow as it approached. The driver had clearly spotted her. Or been looking for her, knowing she was likely to be here?

She had no weapon, no way to defend herself—

The car came to a stop beside her. The window slowly rolled down, and even before she bent to peer inside she knew who she’d see.

Adam Sutton looked back at her, one eyebrow raised, his face shadowed in darkness, lit only by the console in front of him. “Problem?”

Don’t you already know? she nearly asked, biting back the words. Whether or not he was responsible, this probably wasn’t the best time to tick him off, not when she was alone and defenseless on the side of the road.

“My car broke down. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it.”

If he was surprised, he didn’t acknowledge it. He simply nodded. “Come on,” he said with a tip of his head. “I’ll give you a ride back. You can call the rental company to come check it out.”

She hesitated just the slightest moment, her suspicions lingering a little too long, asking whether she really wanted to get in that car with him....

But the offer was entirely reasonable, of course. And if he wanted to do something to her, he could have done it here, where he had her alone, under the guise of helping her with the car.

She reached for the door handle, her gaze meeting his.

She saw from the steady frankness in his eyes that he hadn’t missed her pause. He didn’t comment on it, but simply waited.

She wished she could read what lay in those cold black depths.

He didn’t even smile, or try to offer her some reassuring gesture. He simply sat there, waiting.

Doing her best to shake the feeling she was willingly stepping into a trap, she pulled the door open and climbed inside.