“You sticking around a while? Or are you in and out? Now that you’ve stopped by to check on Chet your conscience is clear?”
“I’m not planning on staying at the ranch if that’s what you’re asking. This little family reunion’s been painful enough. I can’t imagine what sitting through a Wednesday dinner would be like. But I won’t be too far away. At least for a while. Till everything with him settles down.”
“What’s that mean, exactly? You’ve found another unsuspecting girl who’s sweeter than she is bright and you’re crashing with her?”
Leo grins. “Something like that.” He stands. “Look. I’m gonna go. Just, maybe keep my being here to yourself. And let me know if anything changes. I’ll be around for a while in case it does.”
I stand and throw my arms around him, pulling him in to me. “Come here you spoiled pain in the ass.”
After Leo goes, I settle back into the chair beside Chet’s bed, only now I’m anything but sleepy. My mind races about Mollie’s cousin Clint, and what Leo meant about her family. Somewhere around four a.m. I finally manage to fall back asleep. Until six a.m. when the nurses change shifts and the new one begins her morning rounds. By the time I leave the hospital and drive back to my place, I’m on fumes. The only thing keeping me going is the thought of my wonderfully comfortable bed.
Imagine my surprise when I pull into the driveway and see a strange car.