Remy sat back, shaking his head. “Damn, I’m glad I got out of the way.”

He’d expected some anger from Remy. The fact that Lila’s brother-in-law would be sitting at the table had made him think twice about coming. He’d called Rene and tried to beg off, but Rene had insisted, playing the guilt card since he’d been stuck in the house alone after he’d been released from the hospital. He’d needed his friends.

Remy had simply shaken his hand when he’d walked in, and things were oddly normal.

Major stood up and stretched. “I’m getting a beer.”

Quaid Havery nodded his way. “Get me one, too, if you don’t mind.”

Rene simply picked up the crystal decanter in front of him and poured a couple of fingers into his glass. “I’m sticking with this absolutely perfect Scotch.”

Armie frowned Rene’s way because Rene’s leg was currently in a cast, propped up on a stool. “Aren’t you on painkillers?”

He was certain Lila wouldn’t like the fact that her patient was drinking and taking narcotics.

Rene waved him off. “I got off those things days ago. I’m probably going to wish I hadn’t when I get through my first therapy session, but for now I’m feeling pretty good.”

Quaid leaned in. “You’ll feel better when we sue.”

Rene groaned. “I’m not suing Janice Herbert. It’s bad enough that she’s got her Bible study group coming here once a day to pray for me. I can’t imagine what those women would do if I sued her.” Rene raked the pot and took a sip of his Scotch. “Where’s Noelle tonight?”

“She’s got Beth spending the night with her.” He rarely left Noelle alone. Had Noelle been by herself for more than a few minutes since the accident? She used to crave that time. Even as a child she’d been the kid who would sit in her room for hours reading books. Now he was terrified something would go wrong and she wouldn’t be able to take care of herself.

“I heard Beth is rebelling.” Major chuckled as he passed Quaid his beer.

Quaid slapped at the table with a wide smile. “Her daddy asked me if he can legally block her from leaving the state. I told him that he would have to make a deal with his boss because the court is going to rule against him incarcerating his daughter in their home so she can’t go to college.”

“Why wouldn’t he want her to go to college?” Armie asked.