“I still don’t get it.” Her irritation was growing.
“You see, Martin Howard is my friend, and he’s the president of the college. After I spoke to him and after he reviewed Collin’s transcript, he accepted him as a student, to be enrolled for this fall. Doesthatmake sense?” George looked perturbed.
“What about tuition? This is a private college. I can only assume it will be rather expensive. Shouldn’t someone have spoken to me about the cost? And Collin is still a minor. Wouldn’t they need a guardian’s consent?”
“The full application is probably on its way right now. Collin and I simply assumed you’d be happy about this new development. I remember how distraught you were the first day I met you—you were so worried that Collin was settling for a community college and—”
“Yes, but you helped me to see that was a sensible plan.”
“Perhaps it was sensible then. But only because Marissa was going there. After Collin and Marissa fell apart, well, it no longer sounded like the best plan.” George frowned. “Are you saying that tuition expenses might be prohibitive?”
“I don’t know what I’m saying, George. Except that I question your involvement in this. It feels like you’ve stepped over a line. And I resent being left out of this major life decision for my grandson. Collin is my responsibility, and you had no right to do all this behind my back.”
Suddenly the tables had turned and George appeared to be speechless. Although Willow felt a bit sorry for her strong words, she knew they were true. She did resent this intrusion. It was wrong. And to spring it on her like this—that was wrong too. She heard the door buzzer, signaling they were no longer alone. “I have a customer to attend to,” she said.
“You’ve made your feelings quite plain,” George said quietly. “I’ll let you sort this out with Collin. I’m sure that nothing has been set into motion that cannot be stopped.” And without another word, he left.
George spent the next few days vacillating between conflicting feelings of self-pity and guilt. Mostly he felt confused. He wasn’t completely sure what had happened that day ... or why it had all turned so sour. But one thing he knew for certain—from now on, he would refrain from “helping” anyone.
As a result, when Josie called, asking if she could start clearing out his attic, he’d made an excuse ... saying it wasn’t a good time for him. He detected the disappointment in her voice, but really, what could he do? The irony of the whole debacle was that George had prided himself on being an uninvolved and non-intrusive sort of fellow. So how had he gotten himself so entangled in the Wild West family?
“Hello, George,” Lorna called over the fence. “How are you and Baxter doing on this fine Fourth of July?”
George paused from grooming Baxter’s thick coat and, setting down the wire brush, went over to greet Lorna. “We’re all right,” he told her. “Did you have a good visit at your sister’s?”
“Yes. We had a lovely time. I just got home. My goodness, the traffic was something else. I completely forgot this was a holiday.” She pointed to Baxter as he rubbed against George’s ankles. “You’re letting him roam outside now?”
“I think he’s settled in enough, although I don’t let him out here by himself. He just enjoyed a nice sunbath then rolled in the dirt.”
“So any big plans for Independence Day?”
He shrugged. “Only to enjoy my independence.”
She chuckled. “So no big dates with your friend Willow?”
“No, no.” George shoved his hands into his pockets and looked down.
“When was the last time you saw the fireworks show over the lake?” she asked.
He thought for a moment. “Probably not since I was a teen.”
“You gotta be kidding!” She pushed her dark glasses to the top of her head to stare at him with a shocked expression. “I’m going with some friends. We plan to take a picnic dinner up there. You could join us if you like.”
George considered this. “I don’t know. Baxter might be lonely without me.”
“You said he’s settled in,” she reminded him. “Come on, George. The lake is so beautiful with the fireworks reflecting on it. And my friend Cathy is bringing most of the food and she is a fabulous cook. She’s making ribs and potato salad and all sorts of good stuff.”
“That’s tempting.” George mentally compared that to the soup and sandwich he had planned for his dinner.
“Then say you’ll come.” She smiled brightly. “And don’t worry, George, this isn’t a date. It’ll just be you and me and my friends, sharing some good food, a few laughs, and the fireworks show together.”
“All right,” George agreed. “I’ll come.”
“Great. Be ready to leave by six. I’ll bring an extra camp chair for you.”
Before George could change his mind, she told him she needed to go make a fruit salad to take with them. It was set. George was going to the fireworks show with Lorna and her friends. Interesting.
Willow felt badly for the way she’d treated George the other day. Especially after Collin expressed sincere enthusiasmfor his acceptance at the small private college. When Willow asked him about Marissa, he hadn’t said much. But she could tell he was deeply wounded. And she knew that George’s “intrusion” had been good for Collin. For that reason alone, she’d wanted to straighten things out with George, but it had turned into a crazy-busy week at the gallery.
