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She never could turn Granny Bea down. “Okay. For a minute.” Before she could sit in the chair next to Granny Bea, Bill jumped up and pulled it out for her.
She hesitated, then laughed. “Sorry. Growing up with two brothers makes me a little nervous when my chair is pulled out for me.”
He nodded. “Ah, the old yank-the-chair-out-from-under-you trick. I had that happen to me in school many times.”
She was sorry she had brought it up when she noticed the haunted look on his face. Kids in Magnolia had been awful to him.
He nicely pushed her chair in for her. “Thank you.” A small, gentlemanly gesture, but very nice for a woman who never had time for dating anymore.
“Can you ladies help me make a list of the repairs that need to be made around here? When I came in, I noticed the roof is in bad shape.”
Lindsay knew his interest wasn’t because he cared about the condition of the house. He was already moving on with his plan to sell it. “Nothing’s urgent. Maybe you can get the roof done on this visit and save the rest for another time.”
“The carpet in the bedrooms is shot,” Granny Bea said. “I’ve even had Lindsay take me to look at some samples, but couldn’t decide what to do.”
Granny Bea didn’t get it. She thought he was interested in helping her. Helping move her out the door was more like it.
Bill looked from one of them to the other. “We’ll have to get right on it. I’ll make some calls tomorrow.”
“He’s going to be here a few days, Lindsay,” Granny Bea said, then patted his hand. “You did say you can stay a few days, Bill?”
“Yes. But I need to check in with my office first.”
So they had a few days to change his mind. Once he saw Granny get back to normal, he would have to back down.
Lindsay ran her fingernail in a groove scratched into the table’s finish. “So, Dr. Wellington. I hear you’re teaching physics at the university. Very impressive.”
He waved off the compliment as if embarrassed. “Not nearly as glamorous as it sounds.”
“And doing research, too?”
“Yes, particle physics. We’ve been doing neutrino oscillation studies, and we’ve also begun work trying to come up with ways to detect dark matter. In fact, I’ve applied for a grant. I hope to hear something soon.”
“Good luck on the grant. Sounds interesting.”
“Yes, it’s—” His golden-brown eyes sparkled. “Never mind. I would tell you more, but you would probably want to go jump off a bridge. I have that effect on people.”
She smiled at his self-deprecating humor. The guy was truly sweet. She’d managed to forget that fact over the years. Her stomach fluttered, and she couldn’t pull her gaze away from his. She wanted to ask him what physical principle made him so hypnotic.
She jumped up from the table. “I would love to hear more later. But it’s time to pick up the boys.” She turned to Granny Bea. “I’ll stop by to see how you’re feeling in the morning.” She waved as she hurried out.
She and Granny needed a plan. And they needed it fast. Tomorrow morning, they could put their heads together and strategize. With the two of them together, Bill wouldn’t stand a chance.
The next morning, Lindsay rushed to move herself and her nephews out the door of Gregory’s house so she could stop at Granny Bea’s on the way to the center. Normally unflappable Lindsay was totally flapped. The boys always did that to her. At least until she got to the breaking point. Then the boys seemed to sense they were on her very last nerve and would back down.
She was within an inch of that point.
She jammed her hands on her hips. “If you don’t behave, I won’t take you to the movie this weekend.”
They continued to chase each other around the coffee table, but glanced her way as if testing the waters. They were nervous.
“One. Two…”
They darted to opposite ends of the couch to find their shoes.
“Two and a half…”
“I’m weady!” Chase jumped up with his shoes on the wrong feet. “I beat Hunter. I win!”
“No you didn’t. You got ’em backwards.” Hunter smirked at his little brother. “So I win.”
“…Three. Grab your book bags and head out the door right now.” Lindsay pointed.
They weren’t bad boys. They just needed a little firmness for a change. Her poor brother still couldn’t get a handle on that fact. He was trying to make up for their mother deserting them. At four and five years old, all they knew was that they wanted someone to love them. Gregory loved them like crazy, but sometimes didn’t know how to show it. He owned his own business and worked all the time to provide for his family.
She grabbed her purse and locked the door behind them. “Okay. March. To the car. I’ll drop you at day care and your daddy will pick you up.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ll barely make it to Granny Bea’s on time.”
“I hate day care. Ith for babies,” Chase said with his chubby four-year-old cheeks causing a slight lisp.
“You are a baby. So shut up,” his brother said.
As Lindsay buckled them into their booster seats, she pointed at Hunter. “We don’t say ‘shut up’ in this family. And if you aren’t nice to each other—”
“You won’t take us to the movie,” Hunter finished for her. “We know.”
The little sweethearts folded their hands in their laps and settled.
When they arrived at the Jolly-time Day Care Center, she hurried them inside and gave them a quick kiss.
Chase grabbed tightly around her neck and wouldn’t let go. “I wuv you, Aunt Windsay.”
She hugged him back, enjoying the smell of baby shampoo and little boy. “I love you, too, baby.” He wiggled out of her clutches and ran off.
A pang of regret gave her heart a squeeze. Though she was usually content in her singlehood, there were times when she wished more than anything that she had a husband and kids of her own. But apparently, that wasn’t in God’s plan.
She was fine on her own, though. Plus, the boys needed her.
When she arrived at Granny Bea’s house, she was relieved to find her sitting on the front porch swing. Time for a quick private talk.
“Good morning, Granny Bea.”
“Mornin’, dear. Have a seat and swing a bit.”
“We need to form a plan,” she whispered as she dropped into the swing, then looked around for evidence of Bill’s presence.
“He’s in the kitchen cooking breakfast,” Granny Bea whispered back. “Why are we talking so quietly?”
“So he won’t hear us figuring out how to get him to let you stay here.”
“Aha. Well, I think I can get him to cooperate. Or else I’ll turn him over my knee.” She laughed.
Granny Bea didn’t understand how serious Bill was. “He seems determined, so we have to fight. Plan A is we show him how involved you are at the community center.”
“I think you’re right. And we also show him how well you and I do together.”
Lindsay sat up straighter, excited that this might actually work. “Yeah. We’re a team. Then maybe he won’t worry that you’re alone.”
“I’ll drag him to every activity at the center so he’ll see how important my position is.”
Lindsay nodded. “See if you can manage coming in for a while today, if you feel up to it.”
“I feel perfectly fine. And the doctor didn’t say I had to limit my activity.”
“Okay. We have a plan.” She held out her hand to Granny Bea to shake on it. With the cast, they had to shake fingers.
Bill walked outside as they did so. “What’s going on?”
“I just dropped by to check on Granny Bea.” Lindsay hopped up. “I’m heading to the center now.”
“How about some biscuits and bacon first?”
Mmm. Biscuits were her favorite, and she hadn’t had time to eat while feeding Hunter and Chase. “Thanks, but I don’t have time.”
“They’re world-famous biscuits. Well, Boston-famous anyway.”
Lindsay raised an eyebrow.
“Campus-famous? I’m serious, though. They’re the best, even if I do say so myself.”
“Maybe another time.” She waved as she walked toward her car, her stomach growling.
Bill probably had the mistaken notion that Granny Bea sat around her house all the time waiting for his visits, that she had no life of her own beyond him and Drake. He pictured her wasting away on her own—lonely, decrepit. Maybe if he saw evidence of Granny’s vitality, he would get beyond his limited imaginings.
Maybe if Mr. Kennedy pursued Granny Bea more than ever, Bill would realize she had a life of her own. Besides, Mr. Kennedy was only seventy-four years old. A youngster who could take care of her if she ever needed help.
Lindsay practically rubbed her hands together in delight. She would speak to Granny Bea’s suitor as soon as he arrived to volunteer that day. And he would be there. He hadn’t missed a day since Granny Bea began working.
“Bill, honey, I need a ride to work today.”
His grandmother hadn’t been home from the hospital for a full twenty-four hours. “You should be recovering, Granny.”
“My doctor didn’t place any limitations on me, and other than the bother of the cast, I feel perfectly normal.”
What could he do? Perhaps call on her maternal instincts? “How about staying home to visit with me today?”
“You’re right. I don’t want to miss the chance to visit with you. So you’re coming with me.” She grabbed her purse and headed out the front door. “Come on, son. I’m already late.”
So much for spending the morning making phone calls about the house. He patted his pocket to make sure he had his cell phone. He could make calls from the community center.
As they drove toward the town square, he caught Granny staring at him. “What?”
“It’s so nice to have you here. I’m tickled that everyone at the center will get to meet you. You’ll be a good role model for the little ones.”
“I still can’t believe you’re working there. How old are the kids?”
“Age three and up.”
“Do Gregory’s boys come?”
“No, they’re in full-time day care. The three-and four-year-olds only come in the mornings. In the afternoons, we have the after-school children. And senior citizens from the church come in the morning to socialize and to serve as volunteers to help with the children.”
He couldn’t believe his Granny hadn’t mentioned this. “Did you get started with the church group?”
“I’m actually the one who started the senior volunteer program. And I’ve applied for a grant to help fund a lunch program for the preschoolers.”
As he pulled into a parking place, he gaped at his grandmother. “You’re kidding.”
“Maybe I should be offended,” she said with a smile.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m truly impressed.”
“Maybe we’ll both receive our grants.” She patted his cheek. “Now come help me out of the car.”
He hurried around to open her door and give her a hand. Then she led the way inside. This new Granny was such a surprise. A nice surprise. Maybe he had Lindsay to thank for Granny’s newfound happiness and fulfillment.
As soon as they walked in, a dapperly dressed elderly gentleman hurried over to them. “Bea! Oh, Bea, are you okay? I heard you broke your wrist.” His face flamed red all the way to the top of his balding head.
She shooed at him as if he were a bothersome fly. “I’m perfectly fine, Mr. Kennedy.” Then she brushed past him.
Bill choked back a chuckle. The poor guy. Reminded him of how he felt his freshman year of high school whenever he had tried to make conversation with Lindsay. He’d followed her around like a lost puppy dog waiting for her to notice him, and when she had, he’d invariably made dumb, nonsensical comments.
The woman herself was leaning over a child at a small table, pointing to something the child was drawing with a crayon. Her deep red hair that used to hang all the way down her back now swung just below her chin, curving toward her face. She pushed it behind her ear as she smiled at the child.
He inhaled deeply to try to catch his breath. How could she still affect him so? Maybe he and Mr. Kennedy had a bit more in common than he first thought.
He turned to the man, who seemed engrossed in Granny’s every move. “Hi, Mr. Kennedy. I’m Bill Wellington, Bea’s grandson.”
“Oh, Bea talks about you all the time. You and your brother. I’m glad to finally meet you.”
“She insisted on working today, even after being in the hospital yesterday.”
“Stubborn woman. Believe me, I know.”
Bill swiped his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing at the frustration in the man’s voice. Then a sobering thought hit him. He would be taking Granny away from a man who obviously had a crush on her.
At least Granny didn’t seem to care for Mr. Kennedy.
“Bill, come meet the children,” Granny called from a low table across the room.
