I wish I could laugh, but all I manage is a snort.
“Damn, what I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall in Don Merrick’s office when he gets wind of this,” I comment.
“Me too, my friend.Me too.”
Chapter27
Bess
“Let’s go, buddy!”
I watch as Carson tosses the ball once more for Ragnar, who is having the time of his life here.
Here being Phil’s house on the creek.
She suggested I stay for the time being and I gratefully accepted, since construction started this week at Strange Brew, and Lola has been staying in my apartment to keep an eye on everything.Also, it doesn’t feel right for me to stay at Hugo’s place while he is in the hospital.
Since Carson has been virtually glued to my side from the day his father was injured, he ended up staying here with me.His idea, not mine, and after clearing it with his father, of course.
Carson loves it, because he has a nice big TV in his bedroom and his own bathroom on the opposite side of the house from the primary suite.He’s already been out fishing with Savvy’s dad and last night went horseback riding with Tatum on the farm.
It’s the weekend, so no school for him, but we are supposed to be at the hospital at ten thirty to pick up Hugo, who is coming home today.I’m not sure what home yet, because I haven’t had a chance to discuss Phil’s generous offer to use the house for Hugo’s recovery with him.
I know he is frustrated with the slow progress, even though Dr.Sharma had warned him this kind of injury is not one you bounce back from in a day or two.He’s already been in the hospital for four days, and was told, at best, he could return to part-time modified duties—i.e.a desk job—in two weeks, and depending on how he does, to full duty in four to six weeks.
My man did not like hearing that, so I fully expect to be bringing a bear home, wherever we end up.
It’s amusing how everyone assumed, by some unwritten agreement, I would be looking after him.Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have it any other way, but it strikes me as funny how he and I have so quickly become a foregone conclusion.
“Carson!”
This time when I call, he comes running, Ragnar on his heels.
“Want me to drive?”he asks when I lock the door behind us.
My Prius is still parked behind the coffee shop, but I’ve been driving the old Bronco, courtesy of Brant Colter, while Carson has been getting back and forth to school in his pickup, which Hugo had borrowed and parked in Phil’s garage the night we got here.I’m not even sure where Hugo’s truck is at this point.
Maybe tomorrow we can sort out the vehicle situation; at least pick up my car at the coffee shop and return the Bronco to our neighbors up the road with some fresh muffins as a thank you.
“Yeah, that’s fine.Let me just make sure Ragnar has fresh water.”
Climbing into the passenger seat of his pickup, I’m hit with a smell so pungent, it makes my eyes water.
“I’m guessing you forgot to put your soccer gear in the garage to air out after practice last night?”
“Sorry,” he mutters, quickly pulling his duffel bag with sweaty, and very stinky, equipment from the back seat, and running it into the garage.
“Better open all the windows,” I suggest when he gets behind the wheel.“We don’t wanna gas your dad on the way home from the hospital.”
I guess it doesn’t matter where Hugo wants to recover, we’re going to have to come back here regardless to pack up the kid’s and my stuff.
The breeze is chilly as Carson navigates down the mountain, but the crosswind helps to quickly clear the offensive odor in here.
Oddly, the smell reminds me of Ken, who was notorious for leaving his sports gear lying around.That was when we were living in Silence, before moving to Seattle, where everything started going off the rails for him.I never wanted to leave here in the first place, but I was a child, I didn’t have much of a choice.But I’m glad I found my way back here.Silence has always been home for me.
The drive into town is without incident, for which I’m grateful.We’ve had altogether too much excitement this past month, although things seem to be returning to normal.With Ken gone, the entire FBI contingency up and left as well.The first forty-eight hours, I had one of Battaglia’s guys following me around, but when things quieted down it didn’t seem necessary anymore.
I, for one, will be glad to get back to some kind of routine.A new one, that includes Hugo and his son.
