Page 20 of Distant Shores
Pops dipped his chin, and I took a small step back with my crutch as they embraced, not processing a word she’d said.
“And I’m glad you’re okay too,” Jillie said kindly as she turned to me, and I wiped the frown from my face. “Have you been to the beach yet?”
“No, not yet,” I said lamely.
Miss Lenny gasped. “Young man, you must go. It’s a beautiful day. Take your strapping grandpa, shed your shirt—” Her gaze trailed over my body, and I clutched my flannel closer like a scandalized maiden. “—and get some vitamin D.”
Then before I could say a word, she winked and sauntered away to a nearby house, tossing an “I’ll be seeing you boys” over her shoulder.
Kinda sounded like a threat.
“So…,” I said, then pressed my lips together.
Pops tucked the folder under his arm and walked pastme to the Jeep without a word, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his retreating form.
“Adair,” Jillie said, grabbing my arm. “Could I speak to you for a moment?”
Her expression was serious as she guided me over to the golf cart. I pulled out my keys and unlocked the Jeep with my fob, and Pops opened the door.
“I’ll make it quick,” she said, pulling my attention back to her. “I wanted to tell you that Uncle Wilbur has made me his power of attorney. Medical and financial.”
I clenched my keys hard enough to indent my palms. “Oh.”
She squeezed my arm, her answering smile sad. “I know. I’m having trouble grasping it, too, but he wanted to do this now, when it was completely his choice.”
I blew out a breath. “I get that. I just have a hard time believing he needs it. He doesn’t really seem….”
“Yeah,” she said, getting my meaning. “But I’ve suspected since he’s been here that he’s just been doing a good job masking in front of us. Him signing those papers confirms it for me more than anything else has.”
I studied her for a beat, understanding dawning. “It’s worse than he’s told us.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
We shared a long look, the weight of the realization heavy between us.
Jillie took a step toward the golf cart. “I’m glad you here, Adair. Truly.”
“Me too,” I said with a sad smile, then jerked my head toward the Jeep. “I better get going before he toasts in the heat.”
I waved before she drove off, then hurried to the driver’s seat as fast as my crutch would take me.
“Sorry I didn’t see your calls when you arrived,” Popssaid as we pulled out of the Live Oak gates and onto the main road.
“It’s all good,” I said, hoping my quick glances at him weren’t too obvious.
Once we were seated at a little seafood shack by the shore, I sent Delly a text update, and she responded with a selfie of her in the college library, a huge pout on her face.
Delly
I hate you.
I snorted and showed Pops the message, and he smiled fondly.
We placed our orders, and Wilbur Smith, never one to beat around the bush, saved me from having to ask the questions that were desperate to burst free.
“So,” he started, the bright print of his button-up Hawaiian shirt still making my brain glitch. “Tomorrow, I’ll be meeting my roommate.”
The server set down a basket of steaming hushpuppies nestled within the classic red-and-white-checkered paper between us.
