“Not yet, dear,” Margaret replies.
“Oh, let’s show her!” Lauren claps her hands. “I can’t wait to see her reaction!”
I’m suddenly a little nervous. I want so badly for Margaret to like her room and to feel at home. But I don’t want her to feel put on the spot; I want her to feel complete ownership of her space. “Would you rather see it later, when you’re alone?”
“Why, no, dear,” she says. “I watched a lot of HGTV while I was laid up. Let’s have a big reveal!”
Everyone laughs and scoots back their chairs.
“We can bring your furniture from Alexandria and use that, if you prefer,” I tell her as she rises from the chair and grips her walker. “I just pulled a few things I had at the store and in storage that I thought you might like, but nothing has to be permanent.”
We all head to the bedroom, and Lily opens the door. “Ta-da!” she announces.
Margaret steps inside and everyone crowds behind her. I’m gratified to hear a little gasp. “Oh, my,” Margaret says.
“What do you think?” Lauren asks.
“It’s magnificent,” Margaret proclaims. She moves to the bureau, pushing her walker in front of her, and looks at the photos I’ve placed there. She turns to me, her eyes wide. “How did you get these photos?”
“I asked your pastor’s wife to send me the pictures in your bedroom, along with some of your clothes and personal items.”
“How wonderful. How very thoughtful!”
“Great touch, Quinn,” Annie says.
Margaret slowly moves around the room, admiring the four-poster bed, the colorful pillows, the cream duvet, the dresser, the bedside tables.
“It’s just lovely,” Margaret says.
“Daddy changed out the glass doors to give you priv’cy,” Lily chimes in.
“Well, isn’t he handier than a pocket on a shirt!”
Zack laughs. “I’ve been called a lot of things, but I believe that’s a first.” He glances at his watch. “Sorry to leave such fine company, but I have to go.”
My chest constricts.
“You can’t go yet!” Lily exclaims. “I need you to tuck me in an’ read me bedtime stories.”
“I have to meet someone,” he says. “But I bet your grams can help Quinn do it.”
“But I wanted all three of you!”
“I don’t think we’d all fit in one bed,” Zack says.
The group laughs. Lauren comically raises her eyebrows.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” Lily asked.
“Probably not,” I tell her, before he has a chance to respond.
“Why not?” Lily frowns.
“Well, Miss Jessica’s in town,” I say. “And Zack has been spending an awful lot of time over here lately. I’m sure he has other things he needs to do.”
He shoots me a puzzled look. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I nod. “Or the day after.”
