“To…?”
“Ethel’s partial to them.”
Stefan holds the bag out to Granddad. “Would you like them back?”
“No. I’ve got dozens of packets. Plenty to woo her with. Now I need to get going, or I won’t get to sit next to her.” He wheels his chair backwards, away from the table. “It was lovely meeting you. I hope to see you again soon.”
He leaves the communal room, along with half the residents, including Ethel. She uses a Zimmer frame to support her. They are side by side as they go out the door and immediately start talking.
“Your granddad is amazing,” Stefan says.
“Yeah, he is.”
“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me who he is.”
I shrug. “His name wouldn’t mean anything to most people.”
“I’m not anyone.”
I stare into Stefan’s eyes. My breath catches in my throat. “No. You’re not.” I rake my teeth over my lip as Granddad’s words tumble into my head and out of my mouth. “You’re a keeper.”
20
STEFAN
My hand shakes as I hang up the call. Beau looks at me inquisitively. It’s Wednesday morning, and he and Fraser are about to go to work. I was in bed with Quinn when my phone rang. We were both sleeping. The ringtone on my phone woke me, but not Quinn, so I came downstairs to take the call.
“That was my PI.”
“And?” Beau asks.
“He spoke to Mum.”
“And?” His voice rises in pitch.
Fraser rubs Beau’s back and leans against his arm. “You are building the suspense. Why don’t you spit it all out and put us out of our misery?”
“I don’t spit anything out.”
Fraser laughs. “Too much information. I only need to know those details about my fiancé. Congrats on easing the tension, though.”
“Is she going to meet us?” Beau asks, clearly not as amused by my admission as Fraser was.
“Yes. On Saturday morning.”
Beau gulps his black coffee and stares at nothing. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Nor was I.”
“I thought she’d say no.”
“How are you feeling?” Fraser asks him.
“Numb.”
That about sums it up for me too. I’ve spent the last two days convincing myself Mum would tell the PI to fuck off. But she didn’t. She’s agreed to meet us, and I can’t make sense of how I feel or how I should feel.
Beau looks at his watch. “We have to go.”
