11. So Happy Together

SO HAPPY TOGETHER

ANDREW

I can see the idea of moving in together terrifies Madeline. She didn't share what my grandfather had threatened, but I could guess. He wanted me, and I refused him. Now he wants Paul, and he will have him as the heir to his gangland "kingdom" any way he can get him. God knows why. Grandfather Aims was always a law unto himself.

Charles has already hired me. It seems he had a convenient gap in his staff at the clinic. Austin and Richard are going over the house with me. "Are you sure about this?" Austin asks. "Ms. Northernfield is well respected here, by her patients, her co-workers, and the community. No one, and that includes me, is going to bat for you if you hurt her."

I scrub wearily at my face. Madeline and I had put in another four hours at the fair, dealing with more of the usual — upset stomachs, sunburns, and accidents that could have been avoided if people bothered to read signs or pay attention to where they were. I am tired to death, but at least we'd not had any more assaults of any kind. Maybe that was due to the vigilant presence of Austin and his security force pacing through the crowds with their dogs at their sides.

Grandfather's plane is scheduled to land in three hours. It seems that even he cannot get a jet cleared for takeoff and landing on a whim. I'm grateful for the extra time.

"I want her safe," I say. "If she is engaged to me — handfasted, as my sister-in-law calls it — then she is under your protection and that of Ildogis."

"She'd be under my protection anyway," Richard growls. "We've just discovered a handsome young nephew. Do you think I'd turn him over to grand-terror Aims? The old man scared the beJesus out of me when I was a teen. I'm incredibly grateful that Dad set up Lane Enterprises separate from Aims Corps. I was enough of an ass in my early career without having to kowtow to the old monster."

"You weren't a total terror," Austin puts in. "But we are all grateful to Kandis for her civilizing influence."

"Thank you for that faint praise," Richard shoots back. "And we are equally grateful for the way you sheltered Rylie. She was always a sweet kid, but given to flights of fancy. We thought that was all that was going on between her and her betrothed."

"Lee has a good brain," Austin defends his wife. "The rest of you just need to learn how to listen to her."

"You could fool me," Richard snorts. "Today she told me the orange blossom fairies object to lawn runoff."

"Too much nitrogen," I say.

"What?" Both Richard and Austin look at me.

"There's too much nitrogen in the lawn fertilizer. Plus, someone probably used an herbicide somewhere upstream of your orchard. Rylie has found a poetic way of putting it, but there are practical solutions. See if you can divert the runoff into a holding vat and distill it. I think that will take care of the problem. Tulok can tell you more about how to purify water."

"Who?" Richard asked.

"On first base," Austin said.

"What did he say?" I ask, looking at Richard.

"I dunno," he and Austin chorus, grinning like a pair of apes in a banana patch.

Austin relents and says, "Who's on First. It's an old Abbott and Costello comedy routine. You should watch it sometime."

I glare at them. "My life is topsy-turvy, and you two are cracking wise."

"Best time," Austin said. "You laugh a little, clear out some of the adrenaline and cortisol. Then you can think better, and make better choices. It's not about disrespect, it's tension relief."

"All right, you two wise guys," I start to say.

Richard blanches and holds up a hand. "Don't say that. Don't ever say that."

"Why?" I ask.

"Wise guy is another name for Mafia, hmmm, I guess you'd call them soldiers. Grandfather Aims has a whole squad or six of "wise guys."

I blink twice. "Yeah. I should have remembered that. It's been a long time since I had to deal with him or with Dad. Sorry, Rich."

"It's cool," Richard says. "It's just that Kandis and I worked hard to clean up Lane Enterprises. Dad had already started making all our business operations legit, but we still had some corners to sweep out."

"Sorry I wasn't around to help," I say.

Richard shakes his head. "Don't be. You were our early success story: the son who focused on philanthropy instead of profit. We're proud of you. That escape you pulled off for the families in Mountain Hold, nothing short of amazing."

I give a nervous laugh. "Scariest three months of my life. I wasn't sure we could do it. But with so many lives at stake, we had to try."

"Speaking of Mountain Hold, where is Leland this afternoon?" Richard asks.

"In conference with his father-in-law," I say. "Tulok is a canny old son. He's looking at all the possible legal dodges Grandfather might pull to get his hands on Paul or the twins – who could also be legitimate heirs. Fortunately, Madeline's stellar reputation and work performance are in our favor, as is Catriona's diplomatic visa as a visiting head of state. Grandfather is going to have a hard time proving incompetence or neglect."

Richard rubs hard at the side of his nose. "Gotta wonder what this handfasting gig will do to her rep. Are you sure you shouldn't just marry her? Make an honest woman of her, as they say in the old westerns?"

I blow out a breath in frustration. "She won't hear of it. She's insisting on separate bedrooms and autonomy. Don't bump my elbow while I'm in the middle of surgery here, fellas."

Richard grins at me. "Got a thing for her?" he asks.

I let memory take me inward. "Always. Memory of her has been my guiding light for the last ten years. Then, I didn't even recognize her. I had a lot of head trauma when the bus crashed. Problem is, she didn't know it because I was out of touch. And she is totally pissed about what she sees as desertion. Could be, she isn't wrong."

"You did kind of do the love-her and leave-her, lady-on-a-pedestal bit," Austin observes. "She's probably making a good choice by insisting on a little space while you get to know each other. One week and a child does not a relationship make."

"I know. I know," I say. "I couldn't stay, but I could have asked her to go with me. But what kind of life would that have been for her? And then for the boy?"

"Let's focus on the here and now," Richard says. "Do you think this house will do?"

"I don't see anything wrong with it," I reply. "The plumbing all works. There's a dishwasher, a clothes washer and dryer, and a working refrigerator with a big freezer compartment. It looks like paradise to me, but I've been living in the bush for the last ten years. Maybe you should ask Madeline."

"Ask me what?" Maddy's voice intrudes into the discussion. And there she is, in the doorway with Charles, Leland, and Kandis crowding in behind her.

"If you like the place," Richard says. "It belongs to Austin, so I don't think the rent will be too exorbitant."

"Place needs a caretaker," Austin chimes in helpfully. "I'll even throw in the utilities."

"What's wrong with it?" Maddy asks. "Besides that I'll have a housemate."

"I'll try to be good," I say hopefully. "I'll pick up after myself, and do my share of the chores."

"Of course you will," she says. "I'm too busy to look after you. Let me look at it, gentlemen, and I'll get back to you."

I didn't exactly hold my breath, but I will say that I was anxious. I hear closets open and close, then cabinets. I hear water run, then shut off. She comes back into the living room where we had all been standing around talking. She has an odd expression on her face.

"I don't hate it," she says. "It's bigger than my tiny house, even after considering that there will be three of us here. We could even house a tutor for Paul if sending him to school or daycare gets too dicey. But I do have a couple of questions."

"Shoot," Austin says, getting out a pad and pencil.

"Who takes care of repairs?" Maddy asks.

"I will," Austin says. "Or I'll hire someone to have it done if I don't have time. As for a tutor, would you object to Paul running with the kid pack a while longer? Julia has to go back to work Monday, but I know a lady who retired recently and who is bored out of her mind with staying at home. I'm pretty sure I could talk her into re-opening her cottage school, especially if we underwrite it."

"I'd like to meet her first," Madeline says. "But it sounds like a workable idea. Austin does a great job with school security. But with the other children and parents in and out of the public school building, I do worry."

"I'll call and talk to her tonight," Austin says. "I think you'll like her. She's one of the smartest women I've ever met. Lee adores her."

It sounds so odd to hear Austin call his wife "Lee". But in some ways, it fits her. He also calls her "little mermaid" which I have yet to figure out. But it is good to see that my little sister has grown up to manage her own business.

Better yet, it is good to see that she is happy, and has her head on straight, even if she does have a poetic way of expressing herself. Poor kid, she deserves all the good things in life. Our parents sure didn't work toward giving them to her.

"With that settled, what about furniture?" Madeline asks. "I own most of what is in my apartment. It is shabby, but serviceable."

"I can send a moving company to pick it up," Richard says. "They are very good — they will even pack your trash, just in case."

"But . . ." Madeline starts to say.

"It's a good idea," I jump in before she can object. I remembered those last days in Mountain Hold all too well.

It was only days ago that an Aims Corps building had inexplicably collapsed. Maybe it was selfish of me, but I'd rather hired hands were in the line of danger rather than my…what? Dream woman? Lover? Affianced bride? Handfasted lover?

I knew where she fit in my dreams, but not how we would come together in life. Suddenly, I feel extremely nervous.

I'd let this gorgeous, brilliant woman slip out of my life before I even realized what she could mean to me. After working with her for a week, I realize what a treasure she is. After we deal with the very real danger to her and to Paul, will she kick me out? Or will she let me stay?

I've dreamed of her so many nights. Will she be my salvation or the death of me?

I don't have death to worry about. Or at least I don't think I do. But my mother's father is a looming menace — and one that I truly do not understand.

Like the old man in the movie "Godfather", he has held onto customs and attitudes from a previous time. They are not only out of place and inappropriate for our modern times, but dangerous as well. So I will do all I can to protect my son and his mother. And hope that I can win her love and trust while still keeping her safe.