she could n't read him like a book-she supposed it took a lot more than seventeen years of marriage to get to that point-but she thought she usually had a pretty good idea of what was going through his head . there might not have been any cars , but why am i not hearing the neighbors loud television ? why do n't you take a seat so we can talk . '' nicholas ripped off the fake beard that he had worn on his chin , and wiped make-up off of his face . 