The Best of Us (Sullivan's Crossing #4)(32)

Helen had called and invited herself to dinner. She’d also shopped for the meal and brought it along. She’d purchased a new car the day before and was able to get around much more easily, not inconveniencing Leigh. While she did a little afternoon writing on his porch, the chicken was marinating. Leigh had invited Rob to dinner and Helen thought it might be a good idea to leave them alone for the evening.

Sully filled up his plate and carried it to the porch. There was a fat candle lit on the table and utensils wrapped in napkins. Also, some wildflowers in a mason jar. These little female touches worked on Sully. He was as close to happy as he ever got.

“God bless Rob Shandon,” Sully said as Helen was taking her seat.

She laughed. “I don’t know what she’s cooking for him but I’m willing to bet we’re making out better. Leigh has many talents but cooking isn’t one of them.”

“You didn’t ask?”

“I was afraid to,” she said. “I thought if I knew I might be tempted to stay and help her with dinner. But it’s probably better this way.”

“Any news on the girl? Finn’s girl?”

“Rob has seen her and says it’s kind of hard to believe anything is wrong. Rob told Leigh she looks great. She’ll be seeing doctors the next couple of weeks and maybe they’ll have some answers, some kind of plan. Poor thing has a time bomb in her head, I think. And the kids are inseparable, which is how Rob got a kitchen pass to have dinner with Leigh.”

“Alone,” Sully added. He scooped a forkful of potatoes into his mouth. They’d been sautéed in olive oil, with a diced onion and some sliced peppers, as well. Nothing fancy. But he said, “Hells bells, you can certainly cook just fine.”

“Simple things,” she said. “I hope you aren’t tired of my company anytime soon. I can’t wait to pull dinner out of that garden.”

“I’ll mind my manners in that case,” he said. “I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed.”

“I bet you get raided all the time,” she said, chewing on her salad.

“All the time,” he said. “Maggie and Cal, Dakota and Sid, Connie and Sierra. To be fair, they have all helped in the garden at one time or another. The only reason Frank and Enid don’t help themselves is on account of he’s a rancher, mostly retired now, and he and his boys have a bigger garden. If this family keeps growing, I’m going to have to expand. I used to put surplus out for hikers. They don’t get enough fresh fruits and vegetables on the trail. You can’t carry things that spoil.”

“I’ve been enjoying hearing some of their tales so much I’m thinking of putting a murder on the trail,” she said. “By the way, I brought you a book. Only because you said you were interested. You don’t have to read it, and if you do, you don’t have to like it. I will never ask.”

“Of course I’ll read it,” he said. “I admit, I’m a little afraid. You’re such a nice lady it’s hard to think about you spending your days contemplating murder.”

“I’ve never actually killed anyone,” she said. “I’ve come close a time or two...”

He laughed. “I bet you’re a force to contend with.”

“I’m losing that edge,” she said. “When I was younger, I had a fighting spirit. I was essentially a single mother working very hard for a modest salary, devoting myself to the education of teenagers who, by definition, make you want to commit murder. Hmm, maybe that’s what gave me the inspiration to deal with so many dead bodies.” She chuckled and took a bite of her chicken. “Oh, Sully, this is brilliant, this chicken. It’s perfect!”

“I can turn meat on the grill,” he said. “But I’m mostly lucky.”

“I never even thought of dessert,” she said apologetically. “I usually skip dessert and it never occurred to me.”

“I have my dessert in a glass,” he said. “I have a whiskey before bed.”

“Perfect,” she said. “Do you have any thick, sweet liqueur? Like Amaretto? Or Frangelico?”

“I haven’t the first idea. After dinner we’ll walk over to the store, sneak in the back door and check the bar stock. If we don’t have your brand on hand, I’ll get it on my next run to town.”

“You’re turning out to be a very good friend,” she said. “Accommodating.”

“I aim to please,” he said.

They washed up the dishes together before their drinks; they did find a little Grand Marnier for Helen. She put an ice cube in just a splash of liqueur and they took their drinks back to his front porch and talked awhile longer. Sully wanted to hear about her travels and what compelled her to visit foreign lands. She admitted it was curiosity and asked if he had traveled much.

“I’m pretty familiar with Vietnam,” he told her.

He got the impression she was footloose and fancy-free while his roots in Sullivan’s Crossing went deep. “Now family holds me,” he says.

It was nine before she looked at her watch and said, “I’ve kept you up past your bedtime.”

“If I hadn’t wanted to stay up, you’d have known it,” he said.

“I think it’s time for me to get home. I’ve given Leigh and Rob enough privacy, I think.”