Asher nodded. “Then I’ll do all the laundry. Also, if you two want to go home, get online and find flights that will get you home tomorrow. I can drop both of you off at the airport before I pick Dad up, and once I get him home and settled, and the home health nurse shows up, then I’ll return the car rental and fly home in the chopper.”
“I predict Dad is going to have a string of visitors once he gets home. He won’t be lonely, and after he’s well enough to open the bar again, he’ll have all kinds of company,” Dylan said.
“Get your flights figured out first, then we start in here,” Asher said. “I have the name and number of the home health nurse who will be coming. I’m going to call him to make sure he has the right schedule. Remember to put everything we dragged out back where you found it, so Dad doesn’t have to go looking for what he needs.”
“The nurse is a guy?” Gunner said.
Asher shrugged. “It seemed like a choice that would make Dad more comfortable in his own home.”
“Good call,” Gunner said.
“I know one thing he needs,” Dylan said. “He didn’t get to winterize the place before this happened. I’ll getthe covers put on all of the outside faucets, and put up the storm shutters on the windows in the spare rooms. It will keep the house warmer when snowstorms hit.”
“I’ll take his truck when I go get groceries,” Gunner said. “That way I can take it by the garage, refill the fuel and get the oil changed, and make sure the antifreeze level is safe.”
Satisfied with their decisions, Dylan and Gunner got online to book their flights, while Asher went in another room to call the nurse. Everything was finally falling back into place.
* * *
The Brandt brothers were in a different situation.
Everett and Freddie were in separate cells, with separate court-ordered lawyers, and Freddie, being Freddie, didn’t know enough to lie about even one aspect of what they’d done. It soon became clear that his limited ability to understand and his devotion to his brother was what put him where he was.
And Everett, knowing Freddie, was prepared for the attempted murder charge he saw looming, and mentally preparing himself for the guilt of knowing, by his absence alone, he’d just thrown Freddie to the wolves.
As he was staring through the bars of the holding cell and waiting for his arraignment, he had to admit Freddie had been right about one thing. They should never have gone looking for that money.
* * *
Nora’s shoulders were tired from the long drive, and her hand with the stitches was throbbing from gripping the steering wheel for so long.
The good news was, she was more or less home. She still had to weave her way through the massive infrastructure of the streets and bypasses of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but she knew where she was, and how to get where she needed to be, even though that would take at least another hour.
As she’d been driving, a thought about the house she’d just sold occurred to her. Without a bank involved, and with Sonny and Maggie buying the place as is, and once the contract was signed, there was no reason to delay Chris and Ellen Jackson’s move. The sooner they could get into the property before hard winter set in, the better for everyone all around.
She made a mental note to call Patty and tell her, and then give Sonny a heads-up that his offer was accepted. It was also a reminder about getting herself relocated for the same reason.
Even the thought of the ivory tower was enticing right now. She was going for a bath in her Jacuzzi with jasmine-scented bath salts, and DoorDash for sustenance. Whatever she’d left in her refrigerator was ready to be tossed, and buying up a bunch of groceries would defeat her plan to exit to Austin ASAP.
She had a running list in her head of things to do, and the first was letting Ash know she was home. The second was notifying her boss she was back on the job full-time and would be moving residence to Austin within the month. The third was getting out of her lease and setting a moving date with Asher, then selling her furniture to a staging company. They were always on the lookout for nice things to stage homes for sale. It was exciting, and nerve-wracking, and every damn bit worth it just to be Asher Kingston’s wife.
And when she finally pulled off the city street into the attached parking garage to her high-rise, she was exhausted. She pulled into her private parking space and killed theengine, then leaned her forehead for a few moments out of relief.
A security guard recognized her car, and when he saw her, came knocking on her window.
“Miss Borden, Miss Borden, are you okay?”
Nora looked up, then nodded and opened the door. “I’m fine, Howie. Just exhausted from a very long drive.”
“Can I help you get your luggage out of the car?” he asked.
“Yes, with gratitude,” she said, and unlocked the doors for him to get her luggage from the back seat, while she gathered up the things from the front.
“I’ll pull it to the elevator for you. I heard of your father’s passing. I’m sorry for your loss,” he said as they were walking.
“Thank you, but as you know, it was also his blessing. Alzheimer’s is a cruel, cruel way to die.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Howie said, and when they reached the elevator, he pressed the button for her, then rolled her suitcases inside before stepping out of the car. “Welcome home.”
