with the mental right now.â
âBut sheâs cool now, right?â
âYes, thank goodness. I called her just before leaving the house. Sheâs glad youâre coming. She still sounds pretty weak and groggy, but the doctor believes something as simple as antibiotics may cure whatever ailed her.â
âThen why are they transferring her to LA?â
âTo be absolutely sure, Robert.â Gwen knew her brother kept asking because he was scared. Out of all the children, his and Lorraineâs had always been the closest relationship, even closer than hers. She put a hand on his shoulder. âTheyâre just wanting to be on the safe side, eliminate all other possibilities. But our mama is going to be fine. I mean, theyâre still working to slow the progression of the dementia, but these tests will even help in how to deal with that.â
Robert nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. âI canât wait to see her, thatâs all. Then Iâll feel better.â After another moment, she saw his shoulders visibly relax. âSo howâs my old girl Chantay doing? You called her last night, right?â
âThis morning. And what can I say, Chantay is still Chantay.â
âI told you to call her last night, Gwen. You know she would have driven down so you could have some support. You can be so bullheaded sometimes.â
âItâs all good, little brother. I ended up talking to Ransom and then afterward I fell asleep.â Gwen probably wouldnât have shared this information with anyone else, but with Robert she felt safe, free to let her guard down.
Robert took his eyes off the road to glance at Gwen. âHowâd you and he hook up anyway?â
âWeâre not hooked up , as you say,â Gwen retorted, surprised to find that her guard was down but not all the way gone. âHe helps out Miss Mary with odd jobs around her house, and was there when Mama passed out. I told you this when we talked last night.â
They were silent for several miles before Robert spoke again. âWe are talking about Adam Johnsonâs half-brother, right?â
Now it was Gwenâs turn to stare at Robert. âWhy didnât you tell me you knew him when I mentioned him last night?â
Robert cast a questioning glance at his sister. âBecause I donât, not really.â
Gwen never considered Robert a source of information. Now she was all ears. âTell me what you know about him.â
âJust that heâs a product of their motherâs second marriage. His father is Native American, and Iâm pretty sure the parents are still together. Phillip told me.â
âPhillip Burns? Not the Phillip Burns who got caught screwing yâallâs art teacher his senior year!â
Robert laughed. âThe one and only.â
Gwen shook her head. âI didnât know you and Phillip stayed in touch.â
âWe lost touch for a while, but reconnected at the fifteen-year reunion.â
âSo how does he know Ransom?â
âHis niece and Ransom went to school together.â
âNiece? How old is she?â
âTwenty-five, six, something like that.â
Gwenâs mind whirled. Yet one more reason any romantic thoughts about Ransom were inappropriate: she was almost old enough to be his mother!
âSo Ransom and Phillipâs niece dated?â Gwen asked.
âThatâs why his niece was all upset during that weekend I was back here. She secretly liked Ransom and hoped he would break up with his girlfriend. Thatâs how his name came up. Instead, she found out the girl was pregnant.â
Will the surprises about this man ever end? âRansom has a child?â
Robert shrugged. âFar as I know. But thatâs about all I know, sis, that and the fact that thereâs not too much love lost between Ransom and his brother. Phillip says the dudeâs all suave and what not,
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