скачать книгу бесплатно
“I’ll find Granny,” he said as he rushed back in the door. He called for her over and over, but no answer. She was nowhere in the house.
He found Lindsay holding her nose as she stared into the pan. “I think it was green beans.”
“The stove was set on high. She must have put them on to cook quickly, then left them. She’s not in the house.”
“I’m sure she walked over to Sandra’s.”
He wouldn’t quit worrying until he actually saw her. “I’ll be back. Can you see if you can figure out what I did with the food from Minnie’s? I have no idea where I put it down.”
She grinned. “It might be up on the roof.”
He grinned in return. “Maybe we can have green beans for lunch, then.”
She burst out laughing. “I’ll find it. Go check on Granny Bea.”
He paused for a moment. He couldn’t resist smiling. She looked so young, like she had when he’d been so crazy about her. She was the first to break the connection as she turned to go back inside.
He walked next door to Sandra’s back entrance. The tight clench in his jaw eased when he heard Granny’s voice through the screen door. She was fine.
He knocked. “Hi, ladies.”
“Oh, come in, Bill,” Sandra said as she jumped out of her chair and hurried over to greet him. She gave him a fierce hug. “I’m so glad you’re home to see your granny. And staying for a few days no less.”
“Hi, Miss Sandra. It’s good to be here.”
“Come join us, son,” Granny said from the far side of the kitchen table.
“I can’t stay. Granny, we just got home and found your pot of beans burning.”
“Oh, no.” She tried to get up from the low-sitting chair.
He grasped her arm and helped pull her up. “It’s okay. We took the pan outside and Lindsay sprayed water on it.”
“Did it damage my kitchen?”
“Once it airs out, it’ll be fine.”
“Oh, dear. Let’s go see.”
They said goodbye to Sandra and walked back to Granny’s house. Lindsay stood on the back porch with the meals from Minnie’s set out on the picnic table. Hers included.
“You found it?” he asked.
“Yes, slung to the side of the front door. It sloshed around a bit, but it’s still edible.” She gestured to the table with a smirk on her face.
Too bad he couldn’t enjoy the meal with her. Unfortunately, Granny’s food fiasco only strengthened his resolve that she needed to live with him to be safe.
They ate a nice meal, but beneath the pleasant chatter lay what he knew they needed to discuss. When they had a lull in the conversation, he said, “Granny, we need to talk about the kitchen incident.”
“It was a simple mistake,” Lindsay said. “An accident that could happen to anyone.”
He wanted to ask her if she’d ever left something cooking on high then walked next door, but it would be hurtful to Granny. “I know accidents happen, but this could have turned out tragically. What if Granny had gone to take a nap? What if we hadn’t arrived when we did?”
“It’s the first time it’s ever happened,” Granny said. “I am more forgetful these days, but I’m not usually that bad. I put the beans on and wouldn’t have forgotten, but Sandra called and needed two eggs for a recipe.”
“And I bet you got sidetracked talking,” Lindsay said. “Could happen to anyone.”
“Yes. It won’t happen again. I promise I’ll turn burners off before leaving the house again.”
He wouldn’t push, but he would go ahead and make a call to the adult day-care center near the university. He hated to move Granny against her wishes. But maybe she’d come around soon.
“I see your brain working,” Lindsay said. She speared him with an intense look. “Don’t make any rash decisions. You’ll see that she’s fine here in Magnolia.”
He wouldn’t accomplish anything with Lindsay interfering. She would only keep Granny stirred up. “Lindsay, this is between Granny and me. I think maybe you need to leave.”
She jerked back as if he’d slapped her. Then hurt flashed across her face. “Oh. Well.” She stood and jerkily put her lunch trash in the bag. She smiled at Granny, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Lindsay…” He didn’t know what to say.
Granny patted her hand. “He didn’t mean it, dear. Sit back down.”
“No. I should go. I—” Her voice wobbled. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at church, Granny Bea.” She hurried into the house.
He’d hurt her. He hadn’t wanted to, but it was his responsibility to protect Granny.
No matter what it took.
Lindsay made it to the front of the house, seeking refuge in her car. She was determined not to cry until she closed herself inside.
Her car wasn’t there. What on earth?
It’s at Donna Rae’s house. Bill had picked her up.
She would have to walk to Dad’s, then have him drive her to Donna Rae’s.
How could Bill have asked her to leave? How dare he imply that she didn’t know what was good for Granny Bea?
She stormed out of the driveway, walking toward her dad’s house. She was too angry to face Bill at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Sunday. Church. Oh, brother. Bill would probably show up there and she would have to face him in front of everyone in her family.
She would have to prepare so she wouldn’t spout off something she’d regret. And she’d also have to come up with a new plan. Apparently, showing him Granny in action wasn’t going to work.
Chapter Four
The next morning, Bill sat on the front porch swing with a cup of coffee, enjoying the cool, fresh air. His legs were so long, it was nearly impossible to actually swing, so he simply pushed back and forth with his feet flat on the ground.
He set the cup aside to send a text message to one of his graduate assistants. Granny had actually fallen at an opportune time as far as classes went. The students had a weeklong reading period before finals. His assistants could field any questions from them. But the research was another thing. They were at a pretty critical point, and he needed to be there.
The roofers would be out on Monday. The carpet installed on Thursday. Maybe that would be enough improvement to put the house on the market. They could pack the necessities for Granny to move over the weekend. Then they could get everything else once the house sold.
The screen door opened. Granny stuck her head out. “You better get moving, son.”
“For what?”
“Church services.”
“I’ll take you whenever you’re ready.”
“But you’re not dressed for church.”
No. He hadn’t attended in ages. Not since moving away. Not since he’d had Granny around to force him to go. “I won’t be going today.”
“So, you still haven’t let go of the past?” She came all the way outside and sat beside him on the swing.
“You know I can’t really put it in words, Granny. I just don’t think God cares about us like you think He does. How could He, if He let my parents die on the way back from doing His work?”
“I won’t pester you. But I wish you’d go with me. I think you’d enjoy visiting with everyone.”
Granny hadn’t seen how the youth group kids used to tease him. How he’d never felt a part of their clique. Other than Pastor Eddie, there really wasn’t anyone he’d like to see again. “I’ll drive you when you’re ready.”
She patted his hand. “Okay. I’ll be out soon.”
True to her word, she came through the door about ten minutes later. He drove her to the little church he’d grown up in. He pulled up out front, helped her out, then hoping he didn’t run into anyone, he walked her to the front door of the sanctuary.
Once she walked in, he hurried to the car, and he sat there a few minutes, watching couples and families walk inside together. A few elderly singles, as well. No one seemed to notice him. It was like being on the outside looking in all over again.
Moving to Boston and staying there had been a good decision. He would be glad to return home. With Granny.
As soon as possible.
As he turned to look over his shoulder to pull away, he spotted Lindsay’s car turning into the parking lot.
Lindsay’s car. He’d last seen it at Donna Rae’s house.
Oh, no. He’d totally forgotten to take her back there after lunch yesterday. Now he felt even worse. Not only had he asked her to leave Granny’s house, but he’d also left her stranded with no way to get home.
When it was time to pick up Granny, Bill pulled out front once again. He slouched in the seat as folks began to drift through the door, shaking hands with the pastor. He hated that he’d sunk so low as to skulk outside the church building. He sure hoped Granny would hurry and hop in so they could go back to the house.
As the stream of people slowed to a trickle, she finally stepped outside to greet Pastor Eddie. Bill climbed out to open her door, planning to wave to the man if he saw him. While Bill stood with the passenger door open, Granny motioned to someone to follow her. The next thing he knew, Lindsay and a crowd followed Granny down the steps.
It had to be the Jones family. He recognized Lindsay’s dad, Harry, though he had aged a good deal. Gregory looked pretty much the same. Gregory waved.
Too late. Bill couldn’t escape.
“Good to see you again, Bill,” Harry said while shaking his hand.
Gregory, who looked a bit frazzled from trying to keep two young boys by his side, also shook his hand. Gregory introduced Chase and Hunter, then the boys ran off screeching.
“I hope you’ll come have lunch with us,” Harry said. “Lindsay cooks up a nice roast every Sunday. And my other boy, Richard, will be in town this afternoon.”
“We’d love to,” Granny said.
He couldn’t believe his grandmother had agreed to go. She had to know Harry was just being polite. They might not have enough food for two more. “Oh, we don’t want to barge in,” he added.
“Not barging at all.” Harry slapped him on the back. “We always have plenty.” He looked to Lindsay for confirmation.
“Yes, plenty,” she said without looking directly at him.
Great. She didn’t want him there any more than he wanted to be there. “No, thanks. I think we’ll—”
“Lindsay,” Granny said, interrupting his refusal, “I found a bag of fabric that you left at my house. It’s in Bill’s backseat. Why don’t you grab it now before we forget.”
Sure enough, a plastic bag rested on the seat.
“Oh, thank you.” She walked past him to the back passenger door and opened it.
She smelled so nice, all tropical and sweet. And her hair looked soft and touchable as it swung forward while she leaned across the seat. But she had acted so prickly since he arrived. He truly wished they could be on better terms.
His grandmother jolted him back to reality when she pinched his arm to get his attention, then opened her eyes wide, giving him a look that said you better do what I say. “Bill, I’d really like to go eat at the Joneses’ today.”
“Well, I guess if that’s what you want to do…”
“Good,” Harry said. “We’ll see you at the house.”
As Bill helped Granny into the car, Pastor Eddie walked up. “So nice to see you again, Billy boy.”
Bill had forgotten about the nickname. He smiled. Pastor Eddie was one of the good memories. “Thanks. It’s nice to be here with Granny.”
“Well, I’ll let you get to your lunch. I just wanted to say hi. I hope you’ll join us for the service next week if you’re still here.”
“Thanks.” He knew it was noncommittal, but it was the best he could do. He didn’t have time to debate faith issues at the moment.
He had a family gathering to attend at the Joneses’.
When they reached Harry’s house, Lindsay welcomed them in. “Richard arrived right before we did. He’s looking forward to seeing you.”
He and Richard met up in the dining room. It was strange to see him since Richard had been only sixteen when Bill moved away. He was definitely a grown man now. Taller than his dad and brother. And looking exactly like photos of his blond-haired, blue-eyed mother.
They all settled at the table, Harry said a blessing, and then they passed the serving dishes. Somehow, they managed to have enough food for everyone. When it was time for dessert, Lindsay shooed the little boys outside with chocolate chip cookies in hand. Then she made coffee and served chocolate cake for the adults. She’d refused his help throughout the meal, but finally relented and let him pour the coffee.
She was extremely stubborn when it came to asking for help. It seemed she thrived on being in charge of the family, a task that had come to her at too early an age after her mother’s death.
“So, Richard, I hear you’re in Atlanta now,” he said to her brother.
“Yes, but I’m looking to move home in the next year or so. I’m tired of the hotel business.”
“What do you plan to do once you get here?”
