He gestured toward the arched kitchen doorway. “After you.” He followed her into his kitchen, which now looked more like an exclusive bistro.
Granny had doused the overhead and pulled back the café curtains on the kitchen window. The multicolored glow of the Christmas lights on the porch railing blended with a slew ofcandles inside. Might be the entire batch he'd bought her a couple weeks ago.
A group of three sat on the table and others were spaced along the counters. He’d never seen that lace tablecloth before, or the lace-trimmed napkins tucked into gleaming silver napkin rings.
The matching silverware wasn’t his, or the crystal wine glasses. “Where’d all this come from?”
“Had it in my wee hope chest, I did. There’s a fourth napkin and place settin’ if we ever need it.”
Lani gazed at the setup. “It’s absolutely beautiful, Granny. And champagne! What a treat.”
Rance took another look. Sure enough, on the far side of the table, slightly hidden in the shadows, was the ice bucket he rarely used. In it sat the bottle of extremely pricey champagne his mom had given Granny when she’d first arrived.
“It’s a celebration we’ll be havin’, isn’t it? The book’s done and ya gave it yer stamp of approval.” Granny beamed at her. “Have a seat. “
“Which one?”
“The middle. Ya can see the lights on the porch from there. And the tree.”
“I noticed the pretty lights when we drove in. But if there’s a decorated tree out there, I didn’t see it.”
Granny chuckled. “Yer mind was on other things, luv. Look there.” She pointed to a thirty-foot pine the entire family had decorated as a gift for Granny’s first Christmas.
Ducking her head, Lani scanned the area. “Oh, my goodness! How did I miss that?” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Did you rent a crane?”
“Angie did, and we all pitched in to get ’er done.”
“Got a ride in the bucket, I did.” Granny laughed. “Thirty feet in the air. Put the star on. ‘’Twas pure craic.”
“It looks like the tree on the White House lawn. Who came up with the idea?”
“Lucky suggested it. Otherwise we’d have to take down my pool table so we could have a tree in the living room.”
“I wouldn’ta let him dismantle that table to put up a tree. Anyway, there’s a wee one in m’bedroom. Very festive. One in his, too.”
He gave her a look. She gazed right back, her cherub face filled with innocence. He had to glance away or he’d start laughing. Granny was more of a schemer than he’d counted on. Champagne, indeed.
And it was delicious, a perfect complement to shepherd’s pie, hot rolls and even Granny’s Irish pound cake. They toasted the completion of his book and spent most of the meal talking about it.
He and Lani were careful not to give spoilers, though. He’d printed a second copy for Granny before leaving for work this morning, but she’d been too busy cooking to get very far.
Lani’s copy lay on the table between her place and Granny’s. Several times she’d flipped through it to quote a line she especially liked.
He soaked up every word of praise, every smile, every laugh of delight. She loved his book. Selfish man that he was, he craved more than that. He wanted her to love him.
And not just a little bit. He wanted her to love him so desperately she’d put her considerable intelligence to work finding a solution. If they both worked on the problem, they’d find a way. Necessity was the mother of invention, right?
“Will ya be tellin’ your family, now?” Granny polished off her champagne. The bottle was nearly gone.
He’d had very little, but he’d kept the other two goblets filled. “I want to, but I haven’t decided the best way to do it.”
“Well, I have, lad. The two of ya could tell yer mum first, together, then tell the rest at a gatherin’.”
He nodded. “Christmas Day, maybe.”
“That’s what I’m thinkin’. Ya don’t hafta say I’ve known for months, either. No reason to. Say I just found out.”
“But you’ve been so much help to me. You deserve some credit.”
