'Mongo?'
I looked up from the painting, was surprised to find my brother standing beside me, an odd, strained, expression on his face; I hadn't heard him come up. Down by the dock, Mr. Lippitt was engaged in animated conversation with the cops and veterans, but Mary was looking at us.
'Are you all right, Garth?'
'I need to talk to you alone.'
I nodded toward the river, and we walked together across the lawn, down an incline to a pebble beach. I could feel the presence of two Secret Service agents at our backs, but they remained up on the edge of the lawn, out of earshot.
'I should have asked you before,' Garth continued quietly as he picked up a fiat stone and skipped it across the water, startling some ducks. 'But I knew you'd be honest, and I guess I was afraid I might not like the answer.'
'Garth, what the hell are you talking about?'
He turned to face me, swallowed hard, said, 'Do you think I'm healthy enough to be doing this thing?'
'What?'
'You know the problems I've had since I was poisoned with that spy dust shit. Do you think I'm doing the right thing? Am I well enough to marry and settle down in Cairn, maybe adopt some kids? I guess maybe I'm looking for a little reassurance.'
Suddenly I felt tears well in my eyes. 'Of course you're well enough, you idiot. Don't you know you're the most spiritually healthy person I know, outside of Mom? I'm not certain Cairn is ready for you, but you're certainly ready for Cairn. Besides, if Mary ever tells me you're going spooky on her, I'll be right up here to kick your ass.'
Garth smiled broadly, and he seemed relieved. 'Some people on the town board asked me if I'd be interested in becoming Cairn's chief of police.'
'That's great news, Garth,' I said evenly. 'What did you say?'
'I told them I'd have to confer with you regarding my status with Frederickson and Frederickson.'
'Ah, well. I managed to carry on for quite a few years without your assistance, dear brother, and I'm sure I can do it again.'
'That's funny; I don't remember you ever being able to manage without my assistance.'
'I'll ignore that and continue with what I was going to say. I rather like having you as my partner. We've done all right, and you have enough equity in the brownstone and the business so that you shouldn't have any financial worries if you want to be top cop here-or if you want to do nothing at all except make-love and sail all day. On the other hand, Cairn is only an hour away from the city. It isn't a bad commute, and we could even hook up a computer terminal for you here so that you wouldn't have to come in to the office every day. What I'm saying is that you have all the options; I want you to do exactly what you want to do, what will make you happiest.'
Garth nodded. 'That's what I wanted to hear. I just wanted to make sure it was all right with you if we remained partners and I worked out of Cairn.'
'Done.'
We walked together back up the incline into Jack Trex's yard, where my brother's bride, at everyone's urging, had borrowed Jay Acton's guitar and was preparing to give an impromptu concert.
