The Best of Us (Sullivan's Crossing #4)(75)

“I ain’t particularly worried about dropping dead. That wouldn’t be much trouble. All I’d need then is to be buried. After reading about half a dozen of her books, Helen knows how to dispose of a body...”

Maggie laughed in spite of herself.

“But here’s what I’m worried about. I need a favor from you.”

“Shoot.”

“If something unexpected happens, I want to be sure Helen isn’t left taking care of a sick old man or invalid. That would be awful. There’s a little money set by for my old age. Cash money and some bonds. The bulk of what I’m worth is what I’m standing on. You could hire someone to run the camp or sell it. After Helen is done living here, that is. That’s assuming I’ll wear her down and convince her to move in with me. You can’t offer a woman a home to share, then snatch it out from under her when you stroke out or drop dead. I don’t know how that gets handled, Maggie.”

“Well, luckily I married a lawyer and since he’s been here he does a lot more family law than criminal defense. If he doesn’t know the best way to handle all that, he’ll find out. The big question is, what do you expect me to do?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “If I’m sitting in a wheelchair drooling on myself, I’d prefer you take me up on the ridge and just push me off but I bet you’d find that distasteful.”

“I’m not laughing. Do you expect to live with Cal and me? Do you have some strict aversion to long-term care homes?”

He made a face. “No one likes those places, but what are you gonna do? No one wants to be a burden, either. Will you just promise me you won’t see Helen stuck with an old man who needs a lot of care? She’s younger than I am but she’s no spring chicken herself. And she should enjoy what’s left of her life. Especially since she’s got a grandbaby coming...”

“She has a grandbaby coming?” Maggie asked.

“Well, didn’t that slip right out. It’s not officially a grandbaby since it’s a great-niece, but since Leigh’s like a daughter, this would be like a grandchild. And it would be appreciated if you’d just keep that to yourself for now. I warned her I wasn’t that good with secrets.”

“Leigh’s pregnant?” Maggie said. “Well, isn’t that exciting. I’m assuming Rob’s the father?”

“I’m assuming that, too.”

“Well, do they have plans?”

“The issue right now is that there are no plans. He wants plans, Helen wants plans, and yet there are no plans. According to Helen, Leigh is not quite ready to make a commitment for whatever reason, though rumor has it Rob has been ready. Don’t ask me how this is going to come out.”

“Is something wrong?” Maggie asked. “Has she said she can’t make a commitment because of XYZ?”

“Help me with XYZ,” he said.

“You know—is there some reason she can’t make a commitment to the baby’s father? Like there’s something wrong? Like he’s got a drinking problem or gambling problem or lots of debt?”

“I suppose we all have our secrets...except me. I don’t have any that I can think of. Have one or two things in my past I’d rather not talk about but I don’t think they’re shameful. Mostly stupid,” Sully said.

“Me, too,” Maggie said with a laugh.

“Yeah, that last boyfriend of yours before you met Cal was an ass. I don’t know where your head was.”

She cleared her throat. “You don’t know the half,” she said.

“Unless Rob Shandon is a master of disguise, I think he’s a good guy. But then what do I know?”

Maggie rested her basket of vegetables on her hip. “What you know is you want your future figured out and taken care of so you don’t leave any of your loved ones in a bad spot and I admire that. But you’re not going anywhere for at least twenty years. I’ll talk to Cal about how he can make a legal thing for you. Have you talked to Helen about this?”

“I’ll get to that,” he said. “First I have to get her polka dot pajamas moved into my house.”

“Polka dot, hmm?”

“Very stylish,” Sully said.

Leigh hadn’t seen Rob in days. He and Finn had gone to Boulder for Finn’s orientation and they’d both been very busy since he’d returned. In fact, doing a little memory check, it had been two weeks since there’d been any meaningful physical contact between them. And soon he would be taking Finn back to Boulder to move into the dorm.

She called him on Sunday evening. “Aren’t you coming over?” she asked.

“I really have to check on the pub tonight. Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“Yes, I need something! That thing you do! When we’re alone and undressed!”

He chuckled deep in his throat. “The baby’s okay?” he asked.

“The baby is fine, as far as I know. Will I see you tomorrow?”

“Would you like to have dinner?” he asked.

“That would be wonderful,” she said. “Will you bring something or would you like me to surprise you?”

He laughed again. Probably at the very idea of her cooking. “I’ll bring something.”