“He was good too,” Wendy told Caleb.
“Great. It’s not a real serious game, Jackson, but I need you on my side. Both of you.” Caleb lowered his voice. “My cousin Gerard’s already bragging he’s got this in the bag. I’m pretty sure he’s laying bets.”
Caleb took them around, introducing them to an aunt and uncle and some cousins, but the names drifted right over her. “And this is Nana,” he finally said as they stopped by an elderly woman comfortably seated in a club chair by the fireplace.
“Hello, Wendy and Jackson.” The old woman smiled as she grasped Wendy’s hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“I’m glad to meet you too, uh, Mrs....” Wendy glanced at Caleb. “I didn’t catch her last name.”
“Just call meNana,” the old woman said. “Everyone else does.”
“And I’ll bet you’ve met before,” Caleb told Nana. “Wendy used to go to your shell shop when she was a girl.”
“I thought you looked familiar.” Nana nodded knowingly.
“Oh, I doubt you’d possibly remember—”
“You’d be surprised,” Caleb told Wendy. “Nana’s got a fantastic memory for faces.”
Nana peered closely at Wendy. “Did you wear your hair in long pigtails and have freckles on your nose?” she asked. “A summer girl ... coming here with your grandparents?”
Wendy nodded in amazement. “Yes.”
“Your grandparents were the Jacksons ... and you loved to come in my shop, and you’d look and look at all the shells while your grandparents were in town.”
Wendy was shocked. “Yes, you’re absolutely right.”
Nana’s pale blue eyes twinkled. “Then I remember you.” She pointed to the ottoman. “Sit down and tell me what you’ve been doing since then.”
Wendy glanced at Jackson, not wanting to leave him out, but to her relief he was engaged with Caleb, telling him about how he’d spent the last few hours laying the checkerboard tiles in the bathroom.
“Did your mom tell you that I helped her pick those tiles out?” Caleb asked.
“No.” Jackson shook his head. “But that was a great idea. The floor looks really cool.”
“Jackson did a fabulous job,” Wendy bragged. “He’s quite the handyman.”
“But how do you like playing pool?” Caleb asked Jackson. “Or do you prefer Ping-Pong or video games?”
Jackson’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, sure—all of the above.”
“Great. I’ve been looking for someone to challenge me. Come on down to the game room and we’ll get something going.”
With Jackson happily occupied, Wendy wound up giving Caleb’s grandma a brief bio of her life, leaving out the sad parts and ending with the inheritance of the cottage.
“Wonderful!” Nana clapped her hands. “Is it just you and your boy in the cottage? Or is there a Mr. Harper around here somewhere?” She glanced over Wendy’s shoulder.
Wendy quickly explained about Edward.
“Oh, my. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Nana reached for Wendy’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I know that’s not easy for a young woman. But I’m so glad you decided to move here. It’s such a wonderful place for a boy to grow up.”
“Well, we haven’t actually moved here ... not permanently,” Wendy quietly confessed. “I need to sell the cottage. And go back to my job in Cincinnati.”
Nana’s brow creased. “Oh, dear, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Unfortunately, my son has assumed we’re here for good.” Wendy frowned, wishing she hadn’t divulged that. Then, in an effort to change the subject, she began telling Nana about finding the sand dollars today. “But please don’t tell anyone about it,” she said quickly. “I promised Jackson not to tell anyone. It’s important to him.”
Nana chuckled. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
