Quinn will be here soon, and together we’ll start a new beginning.
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Quinn
“SURPRISE!” LILY YELLSas I escort Miss Margaret through the front door of my house.
Sarah, Mac, Lauren, Annie, Terri, Zack, and Lily are crowded into the foyer, along with Kylie, Annie’s son, and Sarah’s two toddlers.
“Welcome home!” Annie and Lauren say in unison.
“Happy homecoming!” Sarah chimes in.
“Oh, my!” Margaret says, gripping the handles of her walker. “I didn’t expect anything like this!”
“We’re all so glad that you’re coming home that we wanted to help celebrate,” Sarah says.
“This is wonderful!” Margaret looks around and beams. “Thank you so much!”
I’d warned Margaret that Lily and Zack would be waiting at the house to welcome her home, and that Lily had planned a surprise. I figured that an eighty-year-old woman who’d just had a heart attack needed a heads-up. I also knew she’d want to be dressed in something nice and wearing lipstick. I didn’t tell her about the other people, but as we walked up to the front of the house, I’d reminded her, “Brace yourself for Lily’s surprise.”
“Welcome home, Grams,” Lily says, rushing forward, then stopping a short distance in front of the walker. She’s been taught that she can’t grab and hug her grandmother like she used to, at least until her hip more fully heals, so Lily bobs up and down on her toes and blows kisses with both hands. “Are you surprised?”
“Very much so.” Margaret’s smile warms my heart. “Let me get seated so I can give you a hug.”
“Right this way.” The crowd clears as I lead her into the living room to a chair with strong arms. She carefully maneuvers her walker and sits down. Lily runs over and hugs her, then the rest of the group comes by and greets her.
“I’ll get her bag from the car,” Zack says after giving Margaret a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“He’s so thoughtful!” Annie remarks when she sees him bringing in her suitcase a moment later.
“Yes.” I try not to actively think about his meeting with Jessica later this evening, although it kept me awake much of last night and has had my stomach in a tangle all day. I put my hand on my just-barely-a-baby bump, smooth the fabric of my navy polka-dot dress, and head into the kitchen to get Margaret a drink.
Sarah has already beaten me to it. She hands me a glass of sparkling water for myself, as well. “We’ve got dinner ready and everything under control,” she says. “Go sit with Margaret and relax.”
I do. At length we gather around the table in the dining room, which I’d set last night. I deliberately seat Zack at the far end so I don’t have to make conversation.
“Oh, everything looks delicious!” Margaret exclaims.
“Lauren made the salad and fixed the green beans, Sarah baked the lasagna, and Annie prepared the strawberry trifle,” I say.
“You all have been so good to me,” Margaret says, her eyes full of gratitude.
“Well, we’re adopting you as our collective grandmother,” Lauren says. “Brooke always talked about how warm and wise you are, and she was right.”
Margaret’s eyes are moist, but she raises her eyebrows. “Me, wise? Why, you young folks run laps around my tired old brain.”
Sarah raises her glass. “To you, Margaret. To your loving heart, your wise ways, and your bright spirit.”
“Hear, hear!” Annie says.
“Amen,” I say.
We all clink glasses and drink to Margaret. She beams, thenwipes her cheeks with her napkin. It’s a delightful evening, except for the tension I feel around Zack.Don’t let negative interactions with others carry over to your home life, I’d read in one of the parenting books. I determinedly try to put that into practice tonight.
Lily and the other children eat in the kitchen with Kylie, then go upstairs to play. Everyone lingers at the table, chattering, laughing, and teasing.
At length, Lily comes downstairs. “Grams, have you seen the bedroom we fixed for you?”
