Read Online The Last Goodbye by Sarah Mayberry - Free Book Online

feeling a little skittish and self-conscious.
    “Did you see Bob this morning? How’s he doing?”
    “He’s good. A little slow to shake off whatever they gave him last night, but otherwise he seemed okay.”
    “Oh, good. Do you think he’ll be up for a visit again this afternoon?” She grabbed two mugs and opened the fridge, searching for the milk.
    “Sure.”
    She studied him over the open fridge door, noting the way he was standing so stiffly. Like a customer in a coffee shop. He’d indicated he wanted to talk, but she had the feeling that she might be waiting all day if she let him work his way around to the purpose of his visit.
    She shut the fridge and regarded him frankly.
    “Would it help any if I said that whatever it is, I’m happy to help?”
    He looked a little taken aback for a moment. Then he rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. “I’m that obvious, am I?”
    “Let’s just say you should never play high-stakes poker.”
    “Thanks for the tip.”
    “Is it something to do with Bob? Please don’t tell me you want me to break it to him that his newspaper collection is gone.”
    “Dad wants to come home.”
    She swallowed as the implications inherent in that one small statement hit home.
    “I told him I’d arrange things to make it happen, and I can sort out a nurse and someone to handle his meals and things from Melbourne. But the social worker wants to assess the house before she’ll agree to discharge him. I’ve got commitments I can’t get out of in town, so…” He pulled a key from the hip pocket of his jeans. “I wondered if you would mind letting her in so she can check the place out and give me her recommendations?”
    Ally guessed from the mention of various support staff that Tyler did not plan on nursing his father himself. From what she’d seen of the distance between father and son, she wasn’t surprised. In fact, after what she’d seen in the parking lot yesterday, she was surprised Tyler was here at all.
    “I can take care of that for you. Not a problem.”
    “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
    She held out her hand and he dropped the key into it. The brass was warm from his body and she closed her fingers around it. “Is that all? You don’t want to borrow money or ask me to perjure myself on your behalf or bury a body in my backyard?”
    It took him a moment to understand she was joking.
    “No.”
    “The way you were looking, I was sure you were about to ask for a vital organ.”
    “I guess you could say I’m not in the habit of asking favors,” he said slowly.
    “No kidding. For future reference, I like your father, I’m here during the day and I’m happy to help out in any way I can. Okay?”
    He nodded.
    “Does that mean you’ll ask if there’s anything else you or Bob need?”
    “Sure,” he said, although his posture and the tension in his face told her otherwise.
    She shook her head. “Seriously. You should never play cards for money.”
    His mouth kicked up at the corner. At last. A little more schtick and she might even squeeze a full smile out of him. Why that seemed so important all of a sudden she didn’t know, but it did.
    “Milk? Sugar?” The kettle was boiling and she poured water into the coffee press.
    “Black, thanks.”
    “Ah, a purist.”
    “More a pragmatist. The guys at work go through milk like it’s going out of fashion, so I figured life would be a lot less disappointing if I got used to having my coffee black.”
    “That is very pragmatic of you. Me, I’d throw a hissy fit until they learned to leave some milk for the boss.”
    “It’s kind of hard for anyone over six foot to pull off a hissy fit. In my experience, anyway.”
    “True. I hadn’t thought of that.”
    She slid his coffee across the counter toward him. Their fingers brushed briefly as the mug changed hands. She looked up—and got caught in the clear, bright silver of his eyes.
    “Has anyone ever told you you have wolf’s eyes?” she said before she