weeks. He hasn’t seen his sister in a long time. But I talk to him every day.” She snuggled Fay a little closer. “You’re right about this one—a real snuggle bug.”
“I had no crib for her, so I barely put her down. The three of us sleep together, all cozy.”
“That sounds kind of wonderful,” Leslie said.
“Isn’t it amazing how some of your biggest blunders can end up being the best thing that ever happened to you?” Nora asked. And she gazed lovingly at little Berry, who sat on the grass between the flower beds, picking at the grass and making sounds that seemed to be a two-year-old’s version of singing.
“I have an idea,” Leslie said. “How would you and the girls like to ride into Fortuna on Saturday? Just wander around, maybe do a little shopping? Go to the big park?”
“That’s so sweet, but I don’t have car seats. Pastor Kincaid keeps his eye open for some to be donated to the church for one of their rummage sales. He says when and if that happens, he’ll snag them for me. Until then…”
“Well then, I think we should see if either Martha or Adie or both of them can babysit for a few hours,” Leslie suggested. “It might be good for you to have a break, get out of town for a while.”
“Maybe I could leave the girls with one of them during their nap time. I’ll ask…if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure,” Leslie said. “Not only would I enjoy the company, it would give you something fun to do. Let me know if you can rope those ladies into sitting for a while!”
Sixteen
Leslie found herself hoping that Nora would be outside with her children when she came home from work. She’d love to wave to her—three doors down the street—and invite her for a glass of tea. She’d offer to hold the baby for her bottle....
Instead, there was a shiny Caddy parked in front of her house, and she groaned.
“Crap,” she said aloud. “What now?”
She quickly considered her options. She could go to Jack’s and wait him out. She could drive out to Paul and Vanni’s house and get herself some backup. Fortuna was an option—she could just go to a restaurant, shop, kill time. But she wasn’t afraid of Greg—she was simply sick of him! So she pulled into her drive and got out of the car.
He wasn’t waiting in his car but on the porch, sitting in one of those canvas chairs, the collar of his white dress shirt open and his sleeves rolled up. And she didn’t recognize his expression. It was odd. Maybe sad. Possibly contrite. Neither was an expression that was familiar to her.
When she stepped away from her car, he stood. He put his hand up, palm toward her. “Don’t shoot me with anything. I just came to talk. Not argue, just talk.”
She approached the porch. “You’re not coming inside,” she said with as much authority as she could muster.
“Fine. Will you sit out here and talk to me for a few minutes?”
“How did you find my house?”
“I’ve been down here a couple of times before. It’s a little town, and I spotted your car in the drive. I also spotted a great big construction worker’s truck parked on the street. I finally decided I had to brave the new boyfriend if I wanted to talk to you.”
“You didn’t think approaching me at work again was a good idea?”
“Paul seemed kind of opposed to that notion the last time I ran into him,” Greg said.
“Right. He offered to beat the shit out of you if you didn’t just leave me alone.”
“I’m not going to hurt you, for God’s sake! Can’t you give me ten minutes?”
She sighed deeply. “Stay right there. I’m going to pour a glass of wine. Can I get you anything? Merlot? Glass of tea? A little hemlock?”
He winced. “Tea would be nice.”
She went up the step and onto the porch. She opened the door. “You come in this house and I’m going to shoot you. Do you understand?”
“Leslie…”
“I’m serious. I’m so bloody sick of you, I will shoot you if you get in my space.”
“Fine. I’ll be waiting right here.”
She locked the door behind her for good measure. After dropping her purse on the counter and pouring a glass of wine and a glass of tea, she went back outside. She handed him his tea and sat in the other chair. “I came down here to get away from you,” she said.