The Best of Us (Sullivan's Crossing #4)(50)

“This is an amazing diet,” she muttered. “Cosmo should write it up.”

Things around Timberlake and the Crossing quieted somewhat once Maia’s surgery was over and pronounced successful. It was looking hopeful that there would be no complications in recovery. She was still in the hospital and Helen had heard through Leigh, who heard through Rob, that she was doing well, though she had some issues. “I’ve heard she’s having a little trouble with balance and dizziness, not to mention pain and weakness, but that this is not considered scary. It may resolve itself. Or she might have to work it out in physical therapy, which will follow,” Rob had explained.

The graduation ceremony took place and Finn walked with his class. “Apparently he’s a lot more excited about Maia coming home than about graduating, even though his grandparents came all the way from Florida,” Helen said. “Such adorable young kids going through something this dramatic—it’s so terrifying.”

“Not if it turns out good,” Sully said.

“I might write about it,” Helen said. “I’ve never written about a brain tumor before. And I have such good resources. What Leigh can’t tell me, Maggie can.”

“I finished your book, by the way,” Sully said.

“Did you enjoy it?” she asked hopefully.

“I don’t know if enjoy is the right word. There were times I had to put the book down before I couldn’t sleep at all!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!”

“I better read another one right away.”

“Well, if it’s painful for you...”

“It’s not painful, it just makes my heart pound sometimes,” he said.

“They’re not scary books,” she said. “I mean, they’re mostly not scary.”

“Helen, there was someone hiding in that woman’s closet while she was in bed! I had to check the goddamn closet before I could turn off the light!”

Helen laughed.

“Let me ask you something. Just how many ways do you know how to kill people?”

“Pfftt,” she said. “With Google it’s endless. I just hope no one close to me dies mysteriously and law enforcement looks at my browsing history.”

“Your what?” Sully asked.

“Something crossed my mind,” she said. “I know you’re going to resist this idea but maybe we should get you up to speed on the computer. I know you use a computer for reservations and daily business, but little else. And don’t you think it’s time for a phone...?”

“I got a phone. I got two phones. One in the store, one in the house. And I got an answering machine, too!”

“When you offered to take a picture of the elk, what did you plan to use?” she asked.

“A camera!”

“You’re not really hooked up, Sully. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. When am I going to call you? Either in the morning while Enid and Frank listen to your conversation, or at night when you’re in bed. If you have a proper phone I can call you anytime. I can text you. Hasn’t Maggie kicked up a fuss about you not being able to send or answer texts?”

“I got a phone!” he said. “If she wants me, she calls me. I live in a goddamn campground.”

“Tsk, tsk. I didn’t mean for you to get all pissy.”

“I had one of those little flip phones for a while. It had belonged to Frank, I think. I hated it.”

“That’s because it’s a terrible phone!” Helen said. “If you have a proper phone, we can communicate when I’m out of town.”

“Day after tomorrow?” he said.

“Just as I told you.”

“Are you staying for dinner tonight?”

“Would you like me to?” she asked.

“I have white fish, potatoes, asparagus and a couple of tomatoes. You can invite Leigh, of course. I love that girl.”

“I’ll call her and ask if she’s interested.”

“And will you have dinner here tomorrow night?”

Helen laughed. “Sully, I think you’re going to miss me.”

“Aw, you already know I will.”

“I’ll shop for tomorrow night’s dinner,” Helen said. “But I might have lunch with Leigh tomorrow, since I’m leaving for almost a week. I’d like to catch up.”

“You two see each other all the time!” he said. “You live together.”

“We don’t actually see much of each other, since I’m always out here and she’s always working,” Helen said. “When we lived in different places we talked every morning and evening. Just for a few minutes, but we’d connect every day. When I come tomorrow, I’ll bring you a couple more books. You don’t have to read them, especially if they disturb your sleep.”

He shook his head and just chuckled. “I can’t figure out why your mind wanders to such places. You’re such a sweet person, but Lordy, do you have a twisted side.”

“Nonsense, I’m the kindest person I know. My first objective is to make the reader wonder. I love a good puzzle, don’t you? My second objective is to make the reader love the characters, sometimes even the bad ones. And the third objective is to make them stay up very late to find out what happens next. I’m not ashamed of the fact that it sometimes causes a little insomnia.”