Page 452 of The Doctors Will See You Now

“I hate when you make sense. It’s fucking ridiculous.”

I clucked. “I’m pretty sure you’re always telling me to make more sense. In fact, just last week, you told me, and I quote, ‘Goddammit, you’re fucking awful at this. At least say something that makes sense.’ End quote.”

She threw her top at me instead of shoving it into her suitcase and shrieked. “Don’t you dare use my trivia-night hysteria against me. You know I panic when Lexi can’t make it!”

“All right. That was a low blow, I suppose,” I consoled. “What would you like me to do about Harry and Doreen, dear?”

“I want you to get them out while I’m in Rochester,” she said simply. She’d be gone for a couple of days on business, something that happened rarely, but happened. And apparently, she was just as done with Chinatown as I was.

“Okay,” I agreed, trying to give her what she needed with the simplest form of support. No arguments, no justifications, no teasing.

She frowned. “Just okay? Just like that?”

I sighed, but kept my mouth shut for a moment. I knew my wife well enough to know she’d have more questions to get through before I’d get an opportunity to answer.

“Doreen and Harry are like family, and you’re just okay with putting them out on the street after all they’ve been through?”

“Is there an answer key to this test? Please?” I pleaded. “I fear I’ll fail without it.”

She pouted and sank into my arms. “I just want you to find a way for me to have both. Isn’t there a way for you to do that? Fucking superhero this shit, Raines.”

A stroke of genius hit me at once.

Maybe there was.

“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll dig my cape out of the closet while you’re gone.”

“Good. But if you find a damsel in distress other than me, I’ll cut your nuts off.”

Winnie winked at me as Wes scooted out in front of her, carrying one of the last boxes. I hadn’t slept at all this weekend, and I’d called in any favor ever created, but we were finally almost done implementing my plan to surprise my wife with the best of both worlds.

I’d spent way too much money to make it happen, and I’d had to bribe the homeowners with any future lottery winnings, but I’d managed to secure the house next door to Doreen and Harry. Having remembered the For Sale sign the last time Charlotte had dragged me down the block for a longing look, I’d gotten directly on the phone with their real estate agent the minute my wife had stepped over the airline threshold headed for Rochester.

I’d come in high immediately, knowing I didn’t have time for back-and-forth bullshit, and secured the deal nearly instantly. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough incentive on its own to get them to leave in a weekend’s worth of time, so I’d had to sweeten the pot. The cost of moving, plus closing, plus real estate fees, plus free brain surgery for life—just in case.

“I can’t believe you convinced these people to get out so quickly,” Winnie said, and I shrugged.

“I’m just charming, I guess.”

She fucking shouted her laugh in my face. “Yeah, okay. Lucky, maybe.”

Just then, Remy pushed his way through me, literally, with a sharp-edged box in hand, to make his way down the stairs. But he was there. And he was helping. I counted that as a win.

“Now, that,” Winnie muttered. “That I don’t know how you pulled off.”

I shrugged. “He hated me before, and he still hates me now.”

“Yeah, but he’s helping you through the rage. That’s a breakthrough.”

I laughed. “I don’t know. Charlotte apparently ran into him one day before we got back together. She said he was pretty accepting of the whole thing.”

“Or he’s just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.”

“Jesus, Win.” I looked over my shoulder to see Remy mean mugging me as he walked into the house next door. “Why do you have to do me like that?”

She smiled. “Because it’s fun. When’s Charlotte supposed to get back, anyway?”

“Any minute.”