If that was the case, she must have profound hearing loss in both ears.
Questions tumbled around his mind as he slid behind the wheel.
Could her hearing loss have been congenital? If not, when had she lost the ability to hear? How had she lost it? How did she manage the day-to-day challenges of living with devices that assisted her hearing but didn’t fully capture everything going on around her? How had the loss affected her life?
A swell of thunder rumbled overhead.
Could Cara hear that?
One more unanswered question.
And his curiosity wasn’t likely to be satisfied unless he found an excuse to pay another visit to the Boyer house and engage her in more than the sort of brief exchange she’d mentioned.
Any summons, however, would involve trouble on the property. Like another health scare for Natalie. But he didn’t wish any more problems on the older woman—and what else could happen out in the quiet countryside that would require the presence of law enforcement?
The thunder reverberated through the still air again, and he started the engine.
Hopefully Cara and Natalie would get home before the skies opened.
Because unless he was misreading the situation, a major storm was barreling in.
“HEY, LYDIA!Grab me another beer!”
As her brother’s command boomed from the recliner in the living room where he sat, as usual, with his feet up while he watchedJeopardy, Lydia dried her hands with a dish towel and counted to three.
The sooner she could ditch this place the better.
She yanked a beer from the fridge, marched into the next room, and slammed it on the table beside his chair.
“Hey.” He scowled at her. “You want foam spewing all over the place when I open it?”
“If you don’t like the service, you can get your own beer from now on.”
He twisted off the cap, eyeing her. “What’s with you tonight?”
“I’m tired, okay? I clean houses all day. It’s hard work.”
“So is working at the mill. Do you hear me complaining?”
“Why should you? All you have to do after you come home is sit down to a dinner I cooked and a house I cleaned and put your feet up while you watch TV.”
“Boy, has your tune changed. When I gave you a place to live two years ago after that no-account you married cashed out your bank account, ran off with the money, and left you in debt, you couldn’t do enough for me.”
“I repaid you long ago. And I’ve been paying you rent for months.”
“Cheap rent.”
“Not if it includes a cook and housekeeper.”
“Whatever.” He took a swig of beer. “Speaking of rent ... are you having any luck finding a new place to live? Ashley’s getting antsy to move in.”
She snorted. “Your so-called girlfriend is antsy for a free place to crash. She’s playing you for a sucker, Randy Politte, and you’re too stupid to see it.”
His complexion reddened. “That’s not true. She wants to get married.”
“And in six months she’ll run off for greener pastures and you’ll owe her alimony for the rest of your life.”
“You’re just bitter because of what Wade did to you.”
