Free "R" is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton

said.
    â€œYou’re being foolish. She’d be lucky to have you.”
    â€œWhat in heaven’s name for?”
    â€œShe’ll need someone to see her through. No one wants to be ill and alone, especially toward the end.”
    â€œThere’s nothing wrong with her! She’s healthy as a horse. She’ll outlive me by a good twenty years, which is more than I can say for you.”
    William turned to me. “Lewis wouldn’t be this stubborn—”
    â€œWhat’s Lewis have to do with it?” Henry asked.
    â€œHe appreciates her. If you’ll remember, he was most attentive to her on the cruise.”
    â€œThat was months ago.”
    â€œYou tell him, Kinsey. Maybe you can get through to him.”
    I could feel uneasiness stir. “I don’t know what to say, William. I’m the last person in the world who should give advice about love.”
    â€œNonsense. You were married twice.”
    â€œBut neither one worked out.”
    â€œAt least you weren’t afraid to commit. Henry’s being cowardly—”
    â€œI am not!” Henry’s temper was climbing. I thought he was going to turn the hose on his brother, but he moved over to the faucet and wrenched the water off with a squawking sound. “The idea’s preposterous. For one thing, Mattie’s entrenched in San Francisco and my roots are down here. I’m a homebody at heart and look at the way she lives—always taking off on cruises, sailing around the world at the drop of a hat.”
    â€œShe only cruises the Caribbean so it doesn’t present a problem,” William said.
    â€œShe’s gone for weeks on end. There’s no way in the world she’s going to give that up.”
    â€œWhy should she give it up?” William said, exasperated.
    â€œLet her do anything she wants. You can live six months up there and the other six months down. We can all benefit from a change of scene—you more than most. And don’t give me that song and dance about ‘roots.’ She can keep her place and you can keep yours, and you can go back and forth.”
    â€œI don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay right here.”
    â€œI’ll tell you your problem. You don’t want to do anything that involves risk,” William said.
    â€œNeither do you.”
    â€œNot so! No sir. You’re completely incorrect. By golly, I got married at the age of eighty-six and if you don’t think that’s taking a risk, then ask her, ” he said, pointing to me.
    â€œReally, it is,” I murmured dutifully, my hand in the air as though swearing an oath. “But guys? Excuse me…” They both turned to stare at me. “Don’t you think Mattie’s feelings count? Maybe she’s no more interested in him than he is in her?”
    â€œI didn’t say I wasn’t interested. I’m discussing the situation from her point of view.”
    â€œShe’s interested, you dolt!” William said. “Look at this. She’s coming back to town in a day. She said so herself. Didn’t you hear her say that?”
    â€œBecause it’s right in her path. She isn’t stopping off to see me. ”
    â€œOh yes she is, or why wouldn’t she drive straight on through?”
    â€œBecause she has to buy gas and stretch her legs.”
    â€œWhich she could do without taking the time to see you.”
    â€œWilliam has a point. I’m with him,” I said.
    Henry began to coil the hose, his hands picking up bits of grit and cut grass. “She’s a wonderful person and I value our friendship. Let’s just leave the subject. I’m tired of it.”
    William turned to me. “That’s how this started. All I did was point out the obvious, that she’s a wonderful person and he’d better get a move on and snap her up.”
    Henry said, “Nuts!” waving William off as he returned to the