It was interesting to hear the other man say it. Thanks to the investments he’d made, Grayson wasn’t going to have to worry much about work. But he often thought that he should be doing more than just volunteering with the center.
But what would he do, and would he even like it?
He caught Levi up on the simple blueprint for the project and the two of them dove in. They worked on without saying much, the whine of the DeWalt and the clatter of moving wood blending with the sounds of talking and laughter echoing around them.
People were working all throughout the big space. Nearby, a crew of vets was setting up a big train set display, while others carried tables, chairs, and even a few booths.
Captain Anderson was probably around here somewhere. He was the one who’d started the foundation here in town, and the one who’d come up with the concept for this event. The man was like a tornado of charitable acts, but he was going to have to take a break soon since he was also planning a New Year’s wedding.
The morning melted happily away, like it often didwith honest work and good company. At one point, another old friend, Ransom Wright, swung through with a big German shepherd that he was socializing to be a service animal. He’d stopped and chatted for a minute while the dog sat at perfect attention by his side, then he’d been on his way. When the sun was high in the sky, there was a small commotion near the entrance.
Grayson looked up to see that the town’s matriarchs had arrived, and it looked like they had brought lunch for all the volunteers.
“Oh wow,” Levi said. “Do you think Shirley brought chicken and dumpling soup?”
The idea of it made Grayson’s mouth water.
Betty Ann Eustace, Shirley Ludd, and Ginny Davies had been pretty much running the town for as long as he could remember. Grayson had thought of them as older ladies even back when he was a little boy, but they worked with an energy and purpose that could put a lot of soldiers like him to shame.
“Time for a break,” Betty Ann called out. “Wash up and serve yourselves, everyone.”
A few minutes later, Grayson and Levi were sitting on the edge of the unfinished stage, eating bowls of chicken and dumpling soup, with a thick slice of cold apple pie each for dessert. There were sandwiches for later in the big fridge at the back of the space.
Grayson made short work of his soup, his eyes closed and humming over every bite.
“As good as you remember?” Levi asked him, his eyes twinkling with humor.
“Better,” Grayson said firmly. “The woman is a magician.”
“So, what are you doing with yourself these days?” Levi asked.
It was a friendly question, asked in a casual tone, but Grayson wasn’t sure how to answer.
On the one hand, he was proud that he’d invested his pay so well and had so much luck. On the other, he couldn’t help thinking of his grandfather quoting,It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven.
Grandpa had probably been trying to make him feel better about the limits on the family’s finances, but something about the age-old statementfelttrue.
Is it okay for one person to have so much when others have nothing?
He’d been generous where he could, but in time he was going to have to make plans if he wanted the number on his account statements to do any real and lasting good.
For now, I’ll have to satisfy myself just spoiling the nanny.
He winced at the thought, even though ithadgiven him great pleasure to treat her to all the clothing and Christmas cheer she wanted.
“I’m, uh, between things,” he told Levi. “Not sure what I want to do next.”
If Levi knew how long he’d been home, he probably had no respect for him.
“That’s understandable,” Levi said. “You have choices now. That’s a good thing. No need to rush.”
So, he knew about the money.
In a place as tiny as Trinity Falls it was probably agood bet that everyone knew. But it was still an awkward idea for Grayson.
“I’ve got the baby now,” he heard himself tell his friend. “It’s changing the way I think about how I want to spend my time.”
“A baby?” Levi said. “Wow, that’s great. I had no idea.”
