‘Is she the Black lady who helped your mama in the house?’
Tiffany’s casual question flustered the old lady.
‘Yes, but—’
‘I’m sure she was dear to you.’
‘Miss Bessie helped raise me and Scotty. We’d occasionally get a tap on the backside with her wooden spoon if we didn’t mind our mouths and manners, but she loved on us something wonderful.’ Ruth Mae’s eyes had misted over. ‘I sure miss her cooking. No one made biscuits like Miss Bessie — they were light as angels’ feathers.’ The old lady sighed. ‘I see now a lot of things were wrong around these parts — especially when I was young. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but I’m up for learning.’
Everyone around the table stopped talking and paid attention.
‘Sit yourself down, do, and Ms Carne will fix you a cup of tea to go with this lovely cake.’
Lyndsey smiled at the way Ruth Mae had settled into a matriarchal role. Tiffany did as she was told with a smile, taking the chair opposite the old lady.
‘I hear you’re some sort of nurse?’ Miss Grey said. ‘Your folks must be mighty proud of you.’
‘I’m a physical therapist at a clinic in Franklin. You let me know if you need any help, okay? I’m used to whipping stubborn old white women into shape.’
Ruth Mae surprised them all then by bursting into a peal of raucous laughter.
Lyndsey relaxed for the first time that afternoon. If only Griff was there, things would be just about perfect.
* * *
‘Do you smell smoke, Theo?’ Lyndsey turned around, stopping for a moment in the middle of making a salad niçoise for their dinner. No one wanted a heavy meal tonight as hot as it was, plus they were all still full from their extravagant afternoon tea. Well, maybe notallof them felt that way, she thought, watching her nephew stuffing a sausage roll in his mouth. After he returned from walking Miss Grey home, he’d helped Lyndsey clear the table — that included polishing off the last massive slice of coffee and walnut sponge and a handful of jam tarts.
‘Yeah. Griff’s back. He’s barbecuing.’
‘Oh.’ She planted her trembling hands on the counter.
‘Is it all right if I go over to say hi? He said it was okay to go anytime. Please,’ Theo wheedled.
‘I suppose so.’
‘Thanks.’ He raced out the door, letting it slam shut behind him.
Lyndsey supposed it really wasn’t fair to use her nephew as a spy. Realistically, it wasn’t possible to avoid Griff for the rest of her stay here anyway. Paradise Valley was hardly the big city, or even a small one like Truro, where it was perfectly possible to have minimal or no contact with your neighbors. Not that she planned to keep up that particular unfriendly habit when she returned to Cornwall. A lot of things needed to change, and that might be the least of them.
A pang of dismay struck her. She couldn’t actually imagine slotting right back in to her old life as if her time here never happened — and the loving, funny, sexy man next door played a major part in that.
* * *
‘Hey, Aunt Li-Li.’ Theo bounded back into the kitchen. Somehow Becca’s irritating pet name sounded sweet coming from her nephew. ‘Griff’s got his brother staying.’ He swiped the dried-up scone she’d been about to throw out, pulled it apart and reached for the jar of peanut butter and a spoon. ‘His name’s Jase. Think that’s short for Jason?’
His brother was here? The one he claimed to have no contact with and never spoke about?
‘I asked Griff if he was comin’ over to say hi, but he was kinda funny.’ He wrinkled his nose. ‘Did you two have a fallin’ out or something?’
‘We had a slight disagreement, that’s all, but we’re still friends.’ She painted on a bright smile. ‘I’d better get this salad finished or we won’t have any dinner tonight.’
‘I’m goin’ up to play Fortnite.’ His charismatic smile was Deke all over. ‘You won’t tell?’
She shouldn’t conspire against his parents’ strict limits on his game playing, but what were favorite aunts for? ‘Half an hour. That’s all. Becca and Nora will be home soon.’ Her sister and niece had joined a group of friends from the parent and baby group for an early evening walk in one of the local parks.
‘You’re cool.’
You’re the only one who thinks so.
