“Pardon me,” she returned, just as cranky. “I’m only trying to find out what I can. She wouldn’t tell me anything, and I’m worried.”

John felt a bit contrite. “Sorry.” The last thing he wanted was to get all nasty with her. “I don’t know anything, though I did ask. It seems Doc Meadows doesn’t even know about it. Which means, I guess, that she’s seeing someone else, but I wouldn’t even hazard a guess as to who. I thought Doc was taking care of all the widows. But I guess not medically.”

“She said she doesn’t see Tom professionally because they’re good friends. But when I called him and asked him if he had recommended a cardiologist, he was silent a long time before he said he hadn’t. Then he suggested I quiz the widows’ brigade on this alleged heart condition. Alleged? She’s acting very strangely. I think there’s more wrong than her heart, although I can’t get a drop of information out of her. I’ve snooped through all her cupboards and can’t find any prescription bottles, insurance receipts, anything. She’s being absolutely impossible and won’t let me get involved.”

“What did the widows tell you?”

She shrugged. “To mind my own business and let Jess have her way for once. Abby West said that mother thing. ‘Now, dear, your mother made many sacrifices for you as you were growing up. Why not just indulge her for a while?’ To forestall an enormous fight, Mother promised me that if I would leave her alone and get settled in, she would tell me all about it later, before her next checkup. She’s adamant that she will not discuss her condition this summer.”

He smiled in spite of himself. “Mighty pigheaded, isn’t she?”

Leigh tapped the list. “I think she’s getting some of these repairs and improvements out of the way so as not to leave anything—you know, undone.” She swallowed and looked away.

“What a thought,” he mumbled.

“Jess is that way—efficient, compassionate. I just hope she’s completely wrong about this heart thing. I don’t think I can live without her. She’s my anchor. The lead in my shoes. You know…I just don’t have anyone to turn to the way I can turn to Jess.”

“Let’s not bury her yet. Let’s think about her yard before we worry about her plot. This is a lot of new landscaping and building. Expensive.”

“Can you do all this? A brick gazebo with a shake roof? Brick barbecue pit? Flagstone walks? If I give you a blueprint to follow?”

He made a face. “No, Leigh. I’m the builder and landscaper. I give you the plans, and you approve or alter them. See, this is my business.”

“It’s my yard.”