“I don’t make a habit of saying everything that I just did.”
“Why did you?” he asked.
“Because I’ve never seen my granddaughter this happy before. I know a good thing when I see it and I don’t want her to have doubts. Or more doubts than she’s had in her life. I’ve got to imagine with your background you might be used to a woman worrying they might not measure up?”
He shook his head. “No. Most times it’s a woman wanting everything I can give them. Saylor’s different. That’s why it’s so important for me to understand her. You shared something with me, I’m going to with you. She’s the one. She’s not ready to hear it though. I hope you won’t tell her.”
“My lips are sealed,” Leslie said, smirking. “Unless you hurt my granddaughter. Then I won’t be so nice.”
He laughed. “I never want to hurt her.”
Leslie shook her head. “Life isn’t that easy. You’re going to hurt her. She’s going to hurt you. It’s how well you mend the other that matters.”
23
MOTIVATED LIKE YOU
“Are you enjoying your time here?” Saylor asked her grandmother on Friday.
“How can I not? This is awesome. Best vacation ever. I’ve never been so spoiled in my life.”
They were sitting on the beach on towels. Rowan was in the house getting some work done. Though he’d taken the day off, he still had something he had to deal with.
“Rowan is good at that. It’s like he knows what I need before I do.”
Like the little cooler bag he kept stuffed with her treatments downstairs for her to grab when she went out on the water every time. One day, she’d used a few up and had forgotten to fill it right then. The next day she went to do it before she walked to the beach, and he’d taken care of it.
She’d tried a few different waterproof tapes and found one that worked the best. There were rash guard shirts for her too before she even knew it’d be best to wear them and avoid always putting so much sunscreen on her arms and waist.
“He seems like a great guy. Not that I knew about him before, but he appears as happy as you.”
“He’s a happy guy,” she said. “The only time I’ve seen him frustrated is with work a few times, but it’s rare.”
“Do you know much about his company?”
“Not really. I’ll ask questions and he’ll always answer them, but I get it. Some of it is over my head, but I understand his need to network and socialize. He spends a lot of time creating designs and testing new products. His best friend runs the operations.”
“I don’t picture him the type to hand it over.”
“Oh, don’t get that impression. He knows what is going on and has a hand in it, but is pretty loose where Logan isn’t. I think it’s a good dynamic they have. It’s working. From what I can see or read, he’s very successful.”
Though he had his brother’s backing and she wondered if the business could fail.
Not something they talked much about either.
His family wasn’t off limits by any means, but not something brought up much more than in passing.
Unless he wasn’t sharing with her. She didn’t want to think that way, but it’s not like she was volunteering much about her sister or her mother’s calls.
Her mother’s weren’t horrible, her sister’s texts and voicemails gave her a headache. Even having her niece and nephew talking and asking if they can come. Using any means necessary to get her way.
“You need someone in your life that is motivated like you.”
“I never thought so before. The nights I’m working late, he’s staying later. When I’m not, he’s home earlier. I thought for sure he was working less because I was around and didn’t want him to think he had to.”
“He’s just rearranging his schedule. That’s what partners do,” her grandmother said. “I’m sure he’s working just as much.”
“I think he is. And you’re right. He’s taking advantage of me being gone to be home when I’m here. Some nights he’s home by five and we have a nice dinner and go in the water. Other times it’s around seven but still get to go outside.”
