Page 32 of The Grizzly Situation
“Oh, cub. I am so sorry for your loss. I wish we had been there for you.”
“It’s okay. I had a lot of love from the sleuth and the kids. But we really would like to see you, if that’s all right. I can send the plane to pick you up.”
He chuckled. “The plane. Believe it or not, I forgot how much the sleuth had. No to the plane. I don’t want the kids getting spoiled. However, we are due for a vacation. Think you might have room for us this weekend?”
I’d have to cancel with Uly, but after I told him it was Chaim I was sure he’d understand.
“I had someone coming in, but we can?—”
“You can take care of business,” Chaim interjected. “The four of us can visit the old stomping grounds and we can take the kids fishing the all natural way. At least, if we’re allowed.”
“Idiot. You’re always welcome. This is your home now and forever.”
He chuckled, and it warmed me as much now as it did when I was a kid. “Then we’d love to come home for a visit.”
And just like that, the pieces that had been missing from my heart were coming back.
Sometimes life was good.
Chapter Nine
BRENT
The call cameat a little after four.
“They just entered the building. I’m having them escorted to the loading dock. Sandy is nervous and Tom is holding her hand. She keeps asking if something is wrong, and my assurances that it’s all good isn’t satisfying her.”
Damn it. I should have realized Sandy would be freaking out.
“Thanks. I’ll be ready for them. Good job.”
“We’ll be there shortly.”
I checked the table. Amelia had done an amazing job for so little notice. Eight different types of finger sandwiches—including those little cucumber things Sandy loved, sliced fresh fruit, a bottle of Dom Pérignon chilling in a crystal bucket with cobalt blue diamond cut flutes. When the big rolling door opened, I came forward, ready to greet the guests of honor. Unfortunately Sandy saw everything before I could say a word.
“No.”
I cocked my head and stared at her. “No?”
“This can’t be for us. Mr. Lockhart, this is too much.”
She looked absolutely stricken. If there was one thing I’d learned over the years, it was that Sandy and Tom both lived a low-key life. They were always there to lend a hand to anyone who needed it, but simply returning the courtesy was out of the question.
“You hush your mouth,” I teased. “This? It isn’t even a tenth of what you deserve. You’ve looked out for me and the boys for years. After Jenna died, you stepped in and helped me so damn much. I wasn’t sure I would ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. On the days I couldn’t handle the pressure, you were there. When things were a Dumpster fire at work, you sent me off, secure in the knowledge the kids were being looked after.” I turned to Tom. “And you? Never once did you complain when Sandy had to run off at a moments’ notice. How many times did you drive her to my place and offer to help with whatever was going on? The two of you are some of the most important people in my life because, thanks to you, I was able to finally get a handle on everything. So I want you to hear this with all the love it conveys. Take the damn RV and shut the hell up.”
“But it had to cost a fortune.”
“That’s not shutting up,” I admonished her gently, grinning so she’d know I wasn’t serious.
“Mr. Lockhart?—”
“That shut up? That goes for you too, Tom.”
In the past, my father loved the trappings of wealth. We had a mansion—the same one we lived in today—and expensive cars, boats, a couple of planes, limousines. If a rich person had it, my father had to have it too. And don’t get me wrong, I liked having money, but it wasn’t something that consumed me. I got rid of most of the things, especially the cars, boats, two of the planes, and kept one jet and one limo. Chaim was responsible for that too. I liked to buy him gifts. A dirt bike he had once mentioned to Benjy? Easy peasy. Benjy’s car that he was working to pay off?Done. I thought it was well received, until they pulled me to the side one day.
“Cub, what the hell are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
