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Leaning forward so she could reach the macarons Ellen had put on the coffee table, she broke down and had another one in spite of what she’d said earlier. “So how’d it go? Did you get the impression the woman Hendrix brought in was a friend or a relative or...”
“I’m pretty sure she was a date. He insisted on paying for the food, anyway. And the two of them spent the whole time talking and getting to know each other.”
“You heard their conversation?”
“Only the first part. There was no way I could miss it—until I took Leo in the back so he could see the kitchen and play with the sprayer over the sink.”
“You took Leo in the back?”
Ellen spread out her hands. “Yeah. Go figure. He wanted to be with me more than he wanted to be with them. And helovedthe kitchen. You would’ve thought I’d taken him to Disneyland.”
“There’s always plenty of frosting in the fridge.”
“Exactly. I let him lick one of the bowls before I washed it.”
Talulah was having trouble imagining how this had gone down. Ellen and Hendrix, as well as the Fettermans, had fallen into a routine of avoiding each other over the years. But maybe Hendrix didn’t feel as though he could just walk out once he saw her behind the counter.
That made sense, given that he was on a date. Walking out probably would’ve seemed weird. “Hendrix didn’t mind you disappearing with Leo? He’s usually very protective of him—and with the way you two feel about each other...”
“What could he say? He had that woman to worry about. I got the impression he was just glad I kept Leo happy and out of the way—and thatIwas no longer in the room.”
“I guess I can see why that might be the case. It was probably awkward for him.Youmust’ve hated having them there.”
“It wasn’t a big deal,” Ellen said. “Leo was worth it.”
Talulah rocked back.“You liked him?”
She nodded. “How could anyonenotlike him? He wants to come back next time I work.”
“And you wouldn’t mind having him do that...”
Although Ellen took a moment to consider the question, she ultimately shook her head. “There’s something about him.”
“He’s easy to love,” Talulah suggested.
“That’s it,” she said with a fond smile.
Then Talulah understood. Ellen had been isolated for so long—first when she’d been left on her own to care for her mother all the years she was growing up, and then, while devoting herself to building a business that was particularly unfriendly to women. She needed love, could only deny herself for so long. And in spite of who his family was, Leo was completely safe.
Hendrix heard the car as it pulled into the driveway, so he stepped outside before his uncle and aunt could reach the landing and knock. “Hey,” he said as they came toward him. “You two have a good time?”
His aunt was the first to start up the four steps to his door. “It was great to get away. Thanks for watching Leo.”
“No problem. As a matter of fact, you might want to leave him here until morning. He’s already asleep. There’s no reason to wake him.”
Stuart checked his watch. “What’s he doing sleeping at eight thirty?”
“After dinner, I took him over to the high school to run around the track.”
“He was willing torun?” Lynn exclaimed. They all knew how much Leo hated exercise. “I’ve all but given up trying to take him walking with me every morning. He usually tells me he’d rather watch cartoons, and he’s so big I can’t make him move if he doesn’t want to.”
“He went over to the track with me but wouldn’t do much running. He mostly walked and waved at anyone who came close enough while I ran.”
“If he’s already asleep, even that much exercise must’ve tuckered him out,” Stuart said.
“Must have. I need to take him there more often so he can get in better shape. Then maybe we won’t have to worry so much about what he eats.”
“Too bad we don’t have a gym nearby,” Lynn said. “I think he’d like going to a Zumba class—something involving music and friends.”
