Susannah's Garden (Blossom Street #3)(68)

George hooted with laughter.

“This is no laughing matter,” she insisted.

“Here.” He offered her his hand.

A better woman would have refused, but Vivian wanted to get back to her apartment. She decided she’d be willing to forgive him this one slight against her daughter. But only this one.

Using her cane for leverage and holding on to George’s hand, she struggled to an upright position, but it wasn’t easy. Damn fools shouldn’t put useless furniture in these rooms.

“I’m glad to hear your husband came by,” George said as she headed toward the door.

“He was an important man, you know. A judge.”

He nodded.

“George sent a lot of men to prison. They deserved it, too. He didn’t tolerate crime.”

“Good for him.”

He sounded sincere, and Vivian was warmed by his approval. “He has to come during the day now.”

“Why?”

Of all people, George should know the answer to that. “They keep the doors locked after eight.”

“Oh, right. I forgot.”

She snorted, not believing that for a second. Vivian was halfway into the hall when George stopped her. “I don’t suppose you told him about meeting me, did you?”

Vivian shook her head.

“Is he the jealous sort?”

“My husband? Never—well, maybe a little.”

Her friend followed her a short distance. “Do you play bridge?”

Vivian shook her head again. “I’m not much good at that sort of thing.”

“Too bad. I could use a bridge partner. What about gin rummy?”

“I used to play that with the grandkids when they were little, but they outgrew it.”

“Want to give it a try one afternoon?”

Vivian would’ve liked that, but she was afraid she’d lose track of the cards. “Maybe. You play Scrabble?”

George gestured with one of his crutches. “I’m not so good with words.”

Perhaps they had more in common than she’d realized. “Me, neither.”

George grinned and she smiled back at him. “The shuttle bus is taking a trip to the Indian casino in Spokane tomorrow afternoon,” he told her. “How would you feel about going along?”

It would make for a long day but Vivian supposed she could manage it. “I think I’d like to go.”

George seemed pleased.

“’Night,” she said.

“’Night,” George echoed. “Listen,” he added, “the next time your husband stops by, you tell him he’s got competition.”

Vivian blushed. “I’ll do that,” she said over her shoulder.

CHAPTER 28

Monday was the Fourth of July. After Susannah had attended the barbecue at Altamira, Carolyn accompanied her to the Roadside Inn five miles outside town. At first Susannah had dismissed her offer, but now as they approached the Inn, she was grateful not to be alone. One look at the seedy, run-down tavern was enough to convince her this was not an establishment she should walk into alone.

In fact, she had no desire to enter the Roadside Inn at all, under any circumstances. Had she been in any other mood, Susannah would have put this off, but she hoped to speak with Sharon, mother to mother, about Troy and Chrissie. And if Sharon had Jake’s phone number, she wanted it.

When she picked Carolyn up, her friend was in a cheerful frame of mind—and it didn’t take Susannah long to discover why. Dave! He’d come to see her on Saturday night. Carolyn hadn’t described the visit in detail, but it seemed to have gone well.

“Would you stop,” Carolyn muttered when Susannah reached the end of the driveway.

“Stop what?”

“Looking at me like you’re ready to break into giggles at any moment.”

“I can’t help it,” Susannah confessed. “You just seem so happy.”

“You’re such a romantic.”

No question there. “So are you.”

“I know…I wish Dave wasn’t so concerned about appearances.” She made a wry face. “I mean, I worried about it at first but I couldn’t care less now.”

“He doesn’t want to embarrass you.”

Carolyn shrugged. “He never stays anyplace long,” she explained. “I told him I accept that. When he’s ready to leave he should just go. I certainly can’t stop him.”

“What about the possibility of him being an ex-con? That doesn’t bother you anymore?” Susannah felt she had to ask.

“I’ve been around men my entire life and I consider myself a decent judge of character,” Carolyn said. “Dave’s a good man. If he’s ever been in jail it would surprise me…. Besides, I did a search in all the states he’s mentioned and couldn’t find any record of him in the justice system.”

“You can do that?”

Carolyn smiled, nodding.

“You enjoy his company, don’t you?” Susannah asked.

“We had a wonderful time. Dave barbecued steaks, and we sat and talked for hours. I’ve never felt this comfortable with any man. He’s warm and funny and has this dry sense of humor that cracks me up. He’s a completely different person when he’s not on the job.”