“Of course, Mom. Let’s go, ladies.”
Samantha Kendall waited until Ginny, Tracy, and Tamara were out of sight. Then she looked at Mary. “I’d gotten vibes a few times in the past when I visited. I’d hoped I’d been wrong.”
“I think some of the problem for Chris right now is that everyone is treating him like a grieving widow, and he feels guilty because they were definitely headed for divorce when Diane got sick.”
“And he never said a word?” Samantha asked. She led Mary over to look at the beds—every size from single to full to king and even what the family called Lusty-size were kept in one area.
“No. I heard it from Diane that they were going to each find lawyers. But once she was diagnosed, he set everything aside. She’d cheated on him numerous times and had even proclaimed she hadn’t wanted Kendall children, just Kendall money.” Mary shrugged. “I don’t know why she confided in me. In the end, the last time I saw her, not long before she died, she regretted the way she’d treated him. I think they made a peace between them.”
“You and Kate have that in common,” Samantha said. “People sense something in you both and know their secrets are safe. So, if I have this right, when Diane got sick, Chris buried the hatchet and just looked after her—as a loving husband would do.”
“It was more like a chain saw than a hatchet, but, yeah, basically. I think he’d already begun to grieve for his marriage. It must have been hard on him on so many levels, caring for her in the end.”
“He’s a good man is our Christopher. I’m very glad he’s headed here. We’ll take care of him. Do you think Jake knows?”
Mary had wondered that herself. “I wouldn’t be surprised. I just…I wouldn’t have said anything, but I think the weight of the sympathy imposed by others has become a particular burden he needs to shed. And I also figure you’re the best one to help him do that.”
“Thank you for trusting me. I think even more highly of him now than I did already, and I didn’t think that was possible. And, by the way, that goes for you, and Jake too.”
They did end up outfitting two bedrooms, and since Jake had led Chris to believe that the house was already furnished, the existence of a master suite would be expected. They would also set up a king-sized bed in the next largest bedroom.
“Generally, when more than one guy moves into a house that Mother has outfitted with a master suite, they use their own beds to sleep in and take turns in the master bath.” Tracy’s smile was wide. “Unless, of course, they’re like my husbands.”
“That’s the funniest thing about hetero men,” Tamara said. “Women, like us, if we end up in a hotel room with a single king-sized bed, why, we just share the bed. Two men in that situation? Someone’s sleeping on the sofa, if there is one, or the floor if there’s not.”
“The amazing vagaries of that pesky Y chromosome,” Samantha said.
For the most part, Mary and the others trailed Samantha. Aunt Samantha sure is a marvel to watch. The woman put Mary in mind of a general. Then she considered the fact that Samantha Kincaid Kendall had managed three husbands and five sons…definitely Superwoman.
She did ask for their opinions, and she did listen, sometimes going with a suggestion from one of them. But she moved efficiently, and in less than an hour and a half, they had everything selected for Christopher’s house.
Mary liked the layout of the house that her cousin would soon move into. The downstairs bedroom was left empty. Jake had told his mother that Chris had a desk and some bookcases he was sending in order to outfit a home office. The rest of the house—from the two bedrooms upstairs, linens for the beds and the bathrooms, all the way down to the living room, kitchen, and dining room complete with dishes and pots and pans—was ready to move into by the end of the afternoon. That included basic supplies like towels, soap and shampoo in the bathrooms and cleaning supplies in the kitchen.
“I thought that we might actually have more time than just the week,” Samantha said. “But Kate handled the one obstacle to Chris’s moving here.” She looked at Mary. “When your folks are ready to stay home, they’ll be tested, too. And if quarantine is required, well, there’s a plan for that as well.”
“That makes me feel much better. Thanks.”
“No thanks are needed. We’re family.”
Family had always been more important to Mary than she’d ever let on. All things considered, her timing couldn’t have been better. Coming here might turn out to be the best decision of my life.
* * * *
The meeting at the combination gun range/fitness complex was winding down. They’d attended a long planning session there with Adam, Jake, and Jordan. Matt Benedict had also been in attendance, along with Marcus and Robert Jessop and, of course, Grandma Kate.
Anthony had been involved in a couple similar meetings in the past when one or another of the residents of Lusty had been in danger. The situation a couple of years back involving Norm Kendall and his best friend and cousin, Will, was the first example that came to mind. Those two Kendalls had been the target of a deranged former client.
He didn’t have to think very long or hard on why that case came to mind, either. He put his attention back on the moment.
“We’ll get in touch with Clint,” Anthony said. “Let him know that we’re drawing up a plan to temporarily convert Lusty to a gated community.”
“We don’t anticipate a problem with that because the town is situated on private property.” Toby looked around the table. “We’ll make
