Vaughn lifted his hammer. Jackson had a point. It shouldn’t matter where he and Benita lived as long as they were together. But it wasn’t that simple. Being in Los Angeles changed Benita. How could he be sure that their being together would keep that from happening?
CHAPTER 16
“Thanks for stopping by, Sheriff.” Benita escorted Alonzo from Ms. Helen’s kitchen to her front door late Monday morning.
“It’s my pleasure.” Alonzo paused to collect his jacket and campaign hat from the coatrack.
Ms. Helen grunted. “I’m surprised you’re all still checking on me with Benita here. It’s been more than a month.”
Alonzo tossed the elderly woman a teasing grin. “Then we must be coming by for your company.”
“That’s hard to believe,” Benita quipped.
Alonzo chuckled. “Have a nice day, ladies.”
“You do the same, Sheriff.” Benita held the door open for Alonzo, then locked it behind him.
Ms. Helen sniffed. “For your information, I’ve been told that I’m excellent company.”
Benita followed her great-aunt back into the kitchen. “The people who’ve told you that must be hard of hearing or immune to your sharp tongue.”
“Probably both.”
Benita grinned. She leaned against the kitchen counter and watched her great-aunt rinse the three teacups before loading them into the dishwasher. “Aunt Helen, have you given any more thought to moving into a senior living residence?”
“Why would I do that when I’m perfectly happy where I am?”
Why did her great-aunt have to make this so difficult? “You’re getting older now. You shouldn’t be on your own. Suppose something happened to you?”
“There are people around me who are looking out for me.”
“Aunt Helen, Doreen’s put her house on the market. She won’t be across the street anymore.”
“You’re not very observant, are you?”
“What do you mean?”
Ms. Helen leaned back against the dishwasher and crossed her arms. “Haven’t you noticed all the people who parade in and out of this house every day? What do you think they’re doing?”
The front doorbell chose that moment to interrupt their conversation. Benita straightened from the counter. “Saved by the bell.”
Benita marched out of the kitchen, through the dining and living rooms, and into the foyer. She checked the peephole and spied Doctor Lana Penn on her great-aunt’s doorstep.
She felt a rush of relief as she pulled open the door. “Thanks for not giving up on my great-aunt.”
“Doctor Gaston never gave up on me.” Lana crossed the threshold.
Benita relocked the door. She watched her guest hook her jacket on Ms. Helen’s coatrack before leading her into the living room. She gestured toward the thick purple sofa. “Please make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything? We have iced tea and lemonade. I think we have some pastries from Books and Bakery.”
“I’m fine. Thank you.” Lana shook her head with a smile.
“Then I’ll get Aunt Helen. Excuse me.”
She found Ms. Helen poking around her kitchen cupboards. “What are you doing?”
“Making a grocery list.” The elderly lady answered without looking around. “Who was at the door?”
“It’s Lana Penn. She wants to speak with you.”