Page 14 of You Can Make Me (Carnival of Mysteries #28)

Seven

D enny

Christ , the man was going to end me. Thank God for both of us that since my angioplasty, all my cardiovascular checkups had come back excellent, or else this riptide of emotions would tear the most important organ in my body to shreds.

“Am I going to survive this man?” I gave the bullshit excuse for an oracle a shake and chuckled at the message.

“ Outlook good. Well, all right, my creepy little inanimate advisor, let me push my luck. “Do you think things will go smoothly with Cooper’s intervention?”

I shook the damn thing and sucked in a breath.

Most Likely . Not as promising, but I’d take it.

I set it back on the shelf and went into the living area.

“He’s showering. He’s, uh…not mad.” I gave a rueful smile, and they all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“That’s great news,” Frank said, clapping his hands together. “How about Gene and I go set up the grill? I brought salmon and halibut and shrimp, and Deb made veggie skewers. She figured fish would be easiest for him to chew?”

I nodded, grateful that they were thinking of his needs but not making a big deal of his limitations.

“That sounds great. I haven’t been able to get much fresh fish around here. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”

“And I baked him some of my legendary brownies,” Sam chimed in with a devious smile.

“My wife, the pusher. It’s almost like she’s not married to a detective,” Gene groaned, and followed Frank outside.

“I’ve heard about those brownies,” Deb said, chuckling. “Maybe now that Cooper’s off the pain meds, he can try them. They could be helpful for pain management, I understand.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Sam replied. Then she eyed me. “And now that a certain detective is retired…”

I dropped my head back and laughed. “I always said I’d be glad to be permanently off-duty if that stuff really helped.

I’m all for trying herbal pain-relief. Up ’til now, all I’ve been able to use was the grocery store topical stuff made from hemp, and that barely makes a dent on my bad days.

I’ve done plenty of damage to this body. ”

“Grocery store stuff is definitely not as helpful, but it takes the edge off.” Sam waved me over to sit next to her on the couch.

Guess my sentry pose was making the women uncomfortable.

I didn’t want to leave Cooper alone with anyone tonight, however.

I wanted to give him time to settle in with his guests before I gave him space.

Although after that shower stall interlude, the last thing I wanted was to be away from him.

I was just lowering myself onto the couch, aware of my constant petty aches, now that Sam was talking about pain relief, when I heard the shower turn off.

“Thank you, Denny. Really.” Sam put her hands on my right shoulder and tucked her feet up under her.

She blinked her big brown eyes. “I’ve been going crazy without him.

You know we’ve always texted each other, at the very least, twice a day?

I wake up to his texts and usually they’re the last thing I read before bed.

I miss him so much.” She rested her chin in her hand on the back of the couch. “I want him back.”

She fake pouted at me, and when I rolled my eyes, she gave my shoulder a squeeze.

“How many ways must I say I’m sorry, Sam?”

She tapped her chin with a long acrylic nail and narrowed her eyes. When I groaned, she threw her arms around me.

“If it couldn’t be me, I’m glad it’s you,” she whispered, kissing my cheek.

“Thanks,” I groaned. There was more I wanted to say, things I wanted to ask her as Cooper’s best friend, but not in front of his mother.

“I’ve never gone this long without speaking to him,” Deb said, a sad smile on her face.

“I got used to not seeing him as often when he moved to LA, but we still spoke several times a week. They don’t tell you that parenting doesn’t get easier when your kids are grown,” she said with a laugh—but then her eyes flared. “Oh, Sam. I’m sorry.”

Sam waved a hand. “It’s totally fine, I understand. I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through.” Then she nudged me. “You, either. You okay? Really, Den? Gene and Walter have been worried about you.”

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees, letting out a breath.”I think so. Getting that way.”

And then Cooper appeared in the hallway and took my goddamned breath away.

He’d dressed in a long-sleeved white henley and black lounge pants, his feet encased in Boston-style black Birkenstocks.

His hair was wet but he’d put some product in and tousled it so it covered the scar on his forehead.

His eyes were wide, though. Too wide. He leaned heavily on his cane as he walked.

He was so brave.

I leapt from the couch and went to his side.”You good?”

He gave me a soft smile and let me put my arm around him.

“Yeah,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “A little light-headed after the shower.” His lips quirked, and I knew he meant more than the act of washing.

I led him to the couch and Sam moved over to make room. Deb came to his side, and I was practically shoved the fuck out of the way. There was no getting between the mama bear and her cub.

Cooper’s ice-blue eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry, Mom.” They hugged for a long time, while Sam rubbed his back from the other side.

He turned and kissed her on the cheek, apologizing to her as well.

I stood by, back on sentry duty with my arms crossed.

Not that I thought these two strong women would be intimidated by me, but I wanted Cooper to know I meant what I’d said.

I’d clear the room for him if he needed it.

Sam and Deb asked him a lot of questions, but he didn’t seem overwhelmed at all.

It was almost like watching Cooper from the before times coming back to life.

He eventually made eye contact with me and gave me that same smile as when I’d shown up to his award banquet in Vegas.

It was full of hope, gratitude, and a little bit of mischief.

He’s gonna be okay.

“I’m going to make sure Gene isn’t burning down the forest,” I said. “You need anything before I go?” My question was directed at all of them, but my gaze was directed at Cooper.

Deb hopped up. “Oh, I’ll come with and grab the sun tea I brought from home. Cooper, I brought some of your favorite.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Cooper melted into mommy’s sweet boy in that moment, and I found myself wondering about his childhood, his awkward phase, how he looked in his cap and gown at graduation. What was he like? What mysteries could talking to his parents solve for me?

Deb put a hand on my back, pushing me into the kitchen, where we were out of sight. Then she stepped away to pace. She shook out her hands before putting one on her forehead.

“Are you all right?”

She shook her head and blew out a long breath.

“My God, Dennis,” she whispered. “I know you tried to prepare me but…he’s so thin!

And his poor mouth!” Her eyes, the identical color of Cooper’s, filled with tears, and she fanned her face to keep from crying.

“I promised I wasn’t going to make a scene, but Dennis… ”

I lightly patted her shoulder, and she turned into my chest and sobbed quietly. I held her loosely and sighed.

“I know. I know. I’m so sorry.”

”I don’t want to cry in front of him, but my God, my poor baby!”

“His mouth is much better, believe it or not,” I said quietly. “I’m trying to put the weight back on him, now that he’s able to eat with less pain. I’m going to buy some meal replacement drinks or protein shakes to supplement. He couldn’t suck them through a straw before?—”

She lifted her head and pegged me with an intense look.

“Thank you, Dennis. It’s been killing me, all of us, but you’ve been so good for my boy.

I see the way you look at him, the careful way you handle him and dote on him.

I know he made the best decision. I don’t think I could have cared for him as well…

not only because we butt heads. I think he would have been miserable at home. ”

I chuckled. “He’s been miserable here, too. It hasn’t been a party, but I’ve spent many years as a training officer and before that, I was in charge of Marines. You learn a lot about when to push and when to step back and let them figure it out. He’s figuring it out, Mrs. Harris.”

“It’s Deb, Dennis. Please. We’re family. No matter what happens from here on out, you will always have a place in my heart for how you’ve cared for my son.”

She pushed up on her toes and kissed my cheek.

I had a twinge of sadness for my own mother.

I missed her a lot. She’d been there for me when my first wife left me, and she was gone shortly after my second marriage dissolved.

I was glad she hadn’t said she told me so, but there had been times, especially lately, when I’d wished for a warm hug and kiss on the cheek.

Knowing I had Deb Harris’s appreciation meant more than she’d probably ever realize.

“Let’s go check the grill. I’m more worried about Frank than Gene. Frank is used to his grill at home. We haven’t used this camping one in years, and I’m looking forward to that fish.”

I followed her outside, and she disappeared into the RV. Frank and Gene tipped their beer bottles toward me.

“How’d it go?” Gene asked in a low voice.

“Better than expected. Mrs. Harris is pretty upset.”

Frank stood a little taller and set his beer down. “I’ll go check on her. Gene, you’ve got the grill?”

“Yes, sir.”

Gene glanced at the front of my heather-gray t-shirt and tipped his chin. There was a damp spot, a couple of blond hairs and a dash of pink lipstick. “She cried?”

“It’s going to be a shock. Do your best, all right? Sam jumped right into conversation with him and didn’t even flinch, but Mrs. Harris…”

“Right. I knew from when we saw him in the hospital it would be rough.”