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"No," she said, shaking her head "While I was in Oregon I was doing a little consulting work for the county--background checks, looking for people who had skipped bond or owed money It was more field work than just computer searches and it wasn’t bad Actually, I kind of liked it More of a place-holder than career field, but it works for h," she added, straightening and lifting her chin "I earned it"

"And I’ll be there," he said And then, deflating slightly, he added, "Unless I eo, I’ll take you," she said with a s could happen, you know," he inforet where I am I could pee in your boss’s wastepaper basket I could cry or babble or think you’re o, I’ll take you I’d be very proud"

"I’d be proud, too--o with you," Pax said froh he’d just made an escape from the hospital He leaned in the doorway and so andhere?" she asked, standing

"We’re here for a little chat," he said At just thather hands on Pax’s upper arrew joined the an envelope toward her

Laine reached for the envelope and found a couple of boarding passes inside The first was from Boston to Seattle, the second was a small commuter that would take her North Bend, just an hour froht is today I can’t leave," she said "Senior needs ot it all taken care of," Pax said

"What’s taken care of?" Senior asked

"Oh, see, whatever sche to work I can’t leave"

"Sit down, Lainie," Genevieve said "We’ll explain, you throw a few things into a suitcases or two and head for home Where your heart is Literally"

After they all explained their idea for Senior’s care, though it sounded well-planned, she was still reluctant "What if this doesn’t work?" she asked

"It’ll work--we’re all on board And if we have to make adjustments, we’ll make adjustments," Pax said "Dad?" he asked

"Dad, if you don’t want o," Laine said

"Lainie, I don’t want it to be so long until you coain"

"Of course not," she said

"And I want to go to that award thing Where is it? Is it far?"

She shook her head and felt tears coave him a kiss on the cheek "I’ll see you very soon"

At first there was barely enough time to text or call Eric Her first opportunity hen she aiting for her plane to board and that’s when she thought that surprising him would be so wonderful After all, she’d only known for a couple of hours herself But Eric being Eric et a little worried if he couldn’t reach her and he did have phone numbers for Senior’s house and Pax’s cell phone So she texted hi on and would call later Possibly it would be late She could get in to Thunder Point via rental car before 9:00 p her suitcases to the cab, he told her that Senior had called hi like, I don’t knohat I’d do without Laine right now, but I can’t have her devote her life toout Find some help so she feels she can leave Of course, he would re that for about ten minutes, but he was both lucid and earnest at the tiht under their noses When Pax asked Mrs Mulligrew if she knew of anyone who could serve as a live-in attendant she said, "Me and ia when she was infirm We kept her for seven years We know our way around some old folks And we have the help of the kids They’ve been helping us for years I’d have offered sooner but I was thinkin’ you wanted some licensed folks hite" Licensed folks hite? One of the Mulligrew sons was an EMT, another was a school teacher, their daughter had been going back to college post-divorce to study social work

It was interesting to Laine that she could take on a case of huh the steps, line up the evidence, secure a warrant, go undercover or tap a line and yet when it ca care for her own father, she felt corew and her husband had been like a part of the faton had been so ill, Mrs Mulligreas always close at hand in case she was needed When there were heavy jobs she couldn’t ers, her grown children were glad to help for the extra incorew had been dependable house sitters for hter and her three children were living in their horew said she and her husband would be ton and keep an eye on things They’d still need so help, "But you can be sure there won’t be no pot s in the backyard, Lainie," she said

Why Laine had not seen this potential solution, she wasn’t sure Maybe just the fact that she was inexperienced in this Ora ht work Surely there would be issues now and again, interruptions in their routines, but Pax and Genevieve and Laine and Eric could live their lives for theIt seemed forever before she saw the town and she had to concentrate not to burn rubber all the way to her house She was not surprised that it was dark--Eric alorked late, especially when she was not around She was fine with that--she’d light the place up! She dragged her suitcases inside and began asking herself--shall I let him find me on the deck with a fire? In the tub? Maybe just naked in the bed

But so She wasn’t sure what it was, but she couldn’t smell him She couldn’t s shts and it was shiny clean, not so lass cleaner--but the house was so e to be carried up to the closet No towels on the washer waiting for the next load And no dishes in the dishwasher?

Reluctantly, filled with trepidation, she went to the ain, so tidy Eric was orderly and neat, but vacuum tracks on the carpet? She went to the closet and Oh My God One lone winter shirt hung there A couple of wool trousers kept it co, she flew into the bathroo kit was gone His toothbrush stood stoically alone in the toothbrush caddy