Page 167 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

He had to admit he was happier than he’d ever been in his life—Sifis wasn’t the only one who’d finally found home.

He took his phone out of his back pocket. “Be back in a minute. Just need to call Cash.”

She looked up. “Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, darlin’.” He smiled at her as he turned for the door. “Everything’s great. Just need to take care of a few details.”

Chapter Thirty

Bea threw the ball for Sifis, and he trotted after it without his usual enthusiasm. She couldn’t blame him. It was very hot this late in the morning, as it seemed to be every day now that they were approaching the height of summer. She pottered around the garden, tending to the plants while Sifis kept himself occupied nearby, sniffing around until she was ready to throw the ball for him again. She couldn’t help thinking that Blane might have a point about a pool. She’d kept insisting she didn’t need one, but the hotter it got, the more she was beginning to revise that assessment. Sifis barked at the sound of her phone ringing, and she hurried back to where she’d left it on the table in the shade.

“Oh, hello, Meg. How are you, my love?”

“Hi, Bea. I’m fine, thanks. How’s everything with you? What are you up to this morning?”

Bea turned to look back at the garden. “I’m doing wonderfully. Sifis and I are gardening.”

Meg laughed. “I hope that little dog knows how lucky he is.”

Bea looked down at him where he stood panting and gazing adoringly up at her. “I have to say, I rather think he does. He’s the sweetest little thing, Meg—I really do want to get you out here to meet him. Of course, not only to meet him, but…” She laughed. “You know.”

“I do. And you’re right. Perhaps I can come sooner rather than later.”

“Oh, I hope so. That would be lovely. But what about you? How are things going? How are Amy and little baby Molly? And Matt, of course. I do feel bad, I never think to ask after poor Matt.”

Meg laughed. “They’re all doing well. Amy sends her love and says to tell you that if you haven’t been back to visit before Christmas, she’s going to start pestering you.”

Bea smiled. “Tell her not to worry. I’m thinking I’ll come at the beginning of November.”

“Oh, that’ll be nice. I’ll let her know. You’d better not leave it any longer than that—little Molly will be seven months old by then.”

“Oh my goodness. Where does the time go?”

“I don’t know, but wherever it goes, we can’t get it back—so I hope you’re making the most of yours.”

Bea smiled, her gaze drifted toward the lane. “I really am.”

“And Blane?”

“Still here.” Bea laughed softly. “Well, not this morning. He’s off doing something for work. I don’t actually know what he’s up to.” She watched a lizard scuttle along the top of the wall. “But whatever it is, things seem to be coming together with him running some training on Nikos’s land. I just hope it means he’ll have to keep coming back.”

There was a pause. “You think he’s leaving?” Meg sounded genuinely startled.

“Well, he’ll have to at some point, won’t he?” Bea kept her voice light. “It’s been wonderful, having him here again these last few weeks, but his life is over there, Meggie. His work, his friends, his sister.”

“And you haven’t talked about it?”

“Well, no.” She watched Sifis sniff along the path between the geraniums. “I’ve rather been avoiding it because…” Bea let the words trail off. “Well, you know.”

“Bea. You should talk to him about it.”

“I know I should.”

“No, really. Next time you see him, I think the two of you ought to sit down and work out just how long you're actually going to have together.”

“Perhaps. We’ll see.”

“Well, when I talk to him, I’ll simply ask him myself—I’ll tell him to come with you when you visit in November.”