Page 23 of The Grizzly Situation

A moment later it cracked open and she peered around the door. “Mr. Lockhart? Do you have a moment?”

There was a tremor in her voice that I’d never heard before. “Of course. Come in, have a seat. Can I get you a drink?”

She shook her head but slid into the chair.

“How was the date?” She squeezed her eyes shut and I noted the silvery track of tears on her cheeks. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

She took in a deep breath. “Tom told me he’s retiring.”

I was confused. “Isn’t that a good thing? You two can spend more time together and….” Then the weight of her words hit me. “You mean he’d like it to be the both of you.”

She gave a slight nod. “I’m so sorry.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “For what? Sandy, you’ve worked so hard and now you can spend time with the person you love most.”

“But the boys?—”

“Will miss you terribly.”

“No, that isn’t what I mean.”

And I knew it wasn’t, but I wouldn’t be sad in front of her. Sandy and Tom had both given the sleuth so much and asked for nothing in return.

“I know what you mean, and I still think you should go ahead with this new adventure. It’s time to shift—no pun intended—your focus from the sleuth to yourselves. We’re your family, so we’ll always be here for you if you need to come home.”

She leapt out of the chair and launched herself at me. “I don’t know that I’m ready. Tom says if we need to stay longer, we can.”

“Tell me something, and be honest. Do you not want to go see the world with your husband?”

She sighed. “More than anything. I’ve never seen Tom this excited before. He wants to buy an RV and see the country.”

I leaned back to look her in the eye. I could see fear in them, and that bothered me a lot. “Hm. I’m afraid that won’t do.”

Her lip wobbled. “Are you saying we can’t go?”

“What? No! That’s not what I’m saying at all. I would be honored to buy you an RV, outfitted with all the bells and whistles. You could consider it a gift from the sleuth.”

She clutched her fingers tighter in my shirt, catching the hair in her death grip. “Oh, but we couldn’t?—”

“It’s already done, Sandy. Does Tom have one in mind?”

She shivered slightly, so I pulled her closer. “He was looking at a pre-owned and?—”

The horror. These were some of my favorite people, and having them out on the road, miles from nowhere, in a vehicle that could break down, leaving them stranded? At least with a new RV, I could purchase top of the line protection to help keep them safe.“No. Just… no. What’s the use of having a rich friend if you don’t let him spoil you now and then?”

“But Mr. Lockhart, I?—”

“Brent, please.”

Her lip jutted out. “But that seems wrong. You’re my boss.”

“Former boss, remember? You’ve retired.”

“But I wasn’t going to leave until you found someone else.”

And this was why I loved my people. Cait was conflicted about going away with her husband, even if it meant her marriage might suffer. Sandy, who’d had a rock-solid marriage longer than many of our people had been alive, had the opportunity to go see the country with her husband, and she was worried about me and the kids.

“Sandy, honey? You’re fired.”