Safe Harbor by Tymber Dalton

too.
    They’re mine. Let’s go.”
    They took Sully’s Jag. She felt a little embarrassed when Mac insisted she sit in the front seat while he took the back. Sully drove.
    Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of a very nice-looking nursing home complex.
    Mac jumped out, opened her door, then raced around, and opened Sully’s for him. Sully waited for her to step close to rest his hand on the small of her back. She cringed but forced herself not to draw away.
    “It’s a really nice place. You’ll see.” He walked her inside while Mac flanked her. They stopped at the front desk where the nurse on duty flashed Sully and Mac a broad smile.

    50

    “Hey! I thought you were going out fishing this weekend.” She frowned a little as she studied Clarisse.
    Clarisse felt heat creep into her face, knowing the makeup and sunglasses didn’t hide all her injuries. She studied the spotless tile floor.
    “We were,” Sully said, “but we ended up with an unexpected visitor. Mandy, this is Clarisse Moore, Tad’s niece.” Clarisse looked up.
    Mandy’s eyes widened in surprise. Clarisse witnessed the nurse’s mistrust immediately transform to pity. “Oh, honey! He’s gonna be so glad to see you! Go on back, guys. I think he’s in his apartment.”
    “Thanks.” Sully led her from the desk and down a hallway. The light and airy facility faintly smelled like oranges. “Tad’s got a small efficiency apartment. He cooks some meals still, when he’s not busy flirting with his nurses.”
    Clarisse couldn’t help but laugh. That sounded like Uncle Tad.
    They wound through the facility and stopped in front of a door numbered 125. This wing resembled an apartment building more than a hospital. A nursing station sat at the entrance, but other than that, nothing overtly identified it as a medical facility. Sully knocked.
    “Goddammit, I told you I don’t feel like playing bingo! They’re running a Dukes of Hazzard marathon on TV this afternoon!”
    The door opened. Clarisse didn’t know who was more shocked, her or Uncle Tad. He looked thin, drawn, one side of his face frozen in a lopsided droop.
    After a stunned moment, he whispered, “Son of a bitch!” and then engulfed her in a weak hug she was afraid to return too strongly for fear of hurting him.
    “Hi, Uncle Tad,” she lamely said.
    He held her at arm’s length, frowning for a moment, then smiling.
    “Please tell me you left the son of a bitch.”
    She sniffled. “Yep.”
    He hugged her again, then gripped her hand and led them inside to

    51
    a small sitting area. He slowly lowered himself to the sofa, pulling her down with him. Mac and Sully settled into two chairs. The apartment was small but tidy. A four-person dinette sat near a window, and an open doorway led to a small bedroom. Another revealed the bathroom.
    “Reecie, you scared the heck outta me, little girl.” He raised his hand to her face as if to stroke her cheek, then lowered it. “It doesn’t matter anymore. You’d better be telling me you’re moving here.”
    Sully spoke up. “She’s living with us.”
    Clarisse noticed he said “living” and not “staying.”
    Tad nodded. “Good.” He grinned. “These boys are the best, but you’ve probably already seen that.”
    They sat and talked with him all afternoon. Near dinner time, he handed Mac a wad of bills. “Why don’t you take Reecie to Plaka’s and get us some dinner? I bet she missed their gyros.”
    Mac tried to refuse the money, but Sully shot him a look. “Go on.
    I’ll stay here with Tad.”
    Clarisse suspected her uncle wanted a few uninterrupted minutes to talk with Sully about the circumstances of her arrival. She didn’t resist when Mac laced his fingers through hers and helped her up from the couch. “You want the usual, Tad?” he asked.
    “Yep. Go by Hellas, too. Get us something for dessert from their bakery.”

     
     
    * * * *
     
     
    After they left, Tad turned to Sully, his face hard.