Page 68 of The Woman Left Behind

SEVENTEEN

The Best Ones

Harry

Harry bent and picked Lillian up, carrying her into the house.

He heard Ronetta close the door behind them as he walked Lillian to her couch and sat on it.

Considering her position in his arms, she landed in his lap. He intended to put her into the seat beside him, but her arms slid around his neck and she burrowed in close, so he left her where she was and tightened his hold on her.

Ronetta first put a box of tissues on the couch next to him, then she came back with two glasses of water and placed them on the tray on Lillian’s ottoman. She retreated, but Harry heard her murmuring from the back hall, and he suspected she was making more calls.

He shifted to get more comfortable, and when he did, Lillian latched on to his hair and yanked her face out of his neck to look at him.

“Don’t leave me,” she breathed jaggedly, the serrated words dragging along his soul.

“I’m not going anywhere, honey,” he whispered.

“I mean…” She sniffed, released her hold, hesitated, and asked, “Can someone look after your pups?”

He knew what she was asking.

“Got Rus on it already,” he assured her.

Her face started to crumble, so he cupped her head and tucked it back into his neck.

It happened about ten minutes later, the thing that happened when you were loved and had good friends.

George showed first.

He took in what was happening on the couch and quickly tutted and wagged a finger when Lillian tried to move to get up and go to him.

He instead came to them, leaned in, kissed the side of her head and muttered, “Don’t move a muscle. Stay right where you are. We got you, darlin’.”

More tears came from Lillian, George’s desolate, concerned gaze slid through Harry’s as he straightened away, then he went to his wife.

Lillian’s friend Jenna showed next. Molly came after. Janie and Kay came together.

Lillian had it under control by then, and Harry had pulled them out of the couch and put her on her feet.

After she allowed her friends to give her love, Ronetta claimed her and took her to the bathroom. Then they moved to another room, and Lillian came out with the mascara smears cleared away, her face shiny with moisturizer, and she’d changed out of her sweater and jeans into some loose drawstring pants, a tight cami and bulky cardigan with slippers on her feet.

George left for a few minutes and came back with a bottle of Macallan. He showed it to Harry across the room and Harry nodded. George poured him two fingers just as he liked it. Neat.

Ronetta got on making some macaroni and cheese. Molly got on to opening bottles of wine and pouring. The other women put Lillian’s groceries away. Mark, Kay’s husband, showed. Then Trey, Jenna’s husband, showed.

And surprisingly, Rus showed.

When George opened the door to him, Harry moved in that direction and George moved out of the way.

Rus was carrying Harry’s duffle.

“Got a clean uniform in my truck. Want me to put it in your office?” Rus asked.

Jesus, but he had good friends too.

He already had an extra uniform in his office, but he didn’t get to answer, Ronetta was there.

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