“It’s something that could happen, if both of you would like.I have another spare guest room.It’s up to the two of you.”
Lacy sighed.“I could spend more time with him at your house, if it would be all right with you, and he might not feel as lonely, if we’re all watching a movie together or spending time having dinner together.”
“But you’re going out with Rory.”Florence assumed Lacy would continue dating Rory at night, taking breaks occasionally.But Florence would end up being the one to have dinner with Frank instead.Otherwise, he would have to go out every night to get something to eat, since the motel didn’t have a restaurant.
“I’ll ask him if he drops by the coffee shop today.”Lacy finished her breakfast and carried her plate into the kitchen.Then she cleaned up the pots and pans.
Florence soon joined her and put the dishes away.“Are you ready to go to the shop?”
“Yep.Thanks for talking me into letting my grandfather know where I was.I’m eager to work things out between us.”
“Good.It’s hard when it’s the holidays, and you don’t have any family to connect with.”
Lacy looked regretful that she had treated her grandfather with disdain when he had been so adamant about protecting her from her ex-boyfriend, even though she had not really been ready to admit she had an issue with Timothy.
Then they headed to the shop.Before they even entered it, Frank was at the door, waiting for them to open up shop.Florence smiled at him.“Are you hungry?Come in and Lacy can get you something.”
Just then, Ava arrived, greeted them, and headed back to the kitchen.Florence joined her.
Then Mrs.Fitzand Ava began baking, and Lacy handed her grandfather a menu and got him a cup of coffee.“Uhm, Mrs.Fitz said you could stay with us at the house, if you would like.I would love it if you would.I could visit with you at night, when I’m not out on dates with Rory.Mrs.Fitz has another spare bedroom.”Then she leaned over and whispered, “When I’m not at home, you can keep Mrs.Fitz company.She’s lonely.”
Her grandfather smiled.She didn’t know how it would go between her grandfather and Mrs.Fitz since they had been adversaries when they worked on cases together.But maybe they would like the companionship.
“That would be nice.”
“And you can ask her to the Christmas dance.”
He raised his brows, his lips smiling.
“Rory and I are going together.I asked him.Mrs.Fitz said she always goes.But I thought if you stayed with us, you could take her.”
Again, he smiled.“Sure, Lacy.I’ll ask her.”
“Okay.Do you know what you want?”
“The cinnamon roll.”
“Coming right up.”Then she whipped around, went into the kitchen, and found Ava working on cinnamon rolls.
“One of our best sellers,” Ava said.
“That’s what my grandfather wants,” Lacy said.
“I’m glad he has come for the holidays,” Ava said.
“I agree.”Lacy turned to Mrs.Fitz.“Granddad agreed to stay with us.”
“Wonderful.That would be great.”
Lacy didn’t tell her that he would ask her to go to the dance.That was between her grandfather and Mrs.Fitz.
Frank wasglad to have the offer to stay at Florence’s home for the holidays.It would make it so much easier to visit with his granddaughter.But also, he wanted to get to know Florence better—not as agents working cases, but maybe even dating.He would be happy to take her to the Christmas dance if she wanted him to.
Once his wife had died, he hadn’t dated afterward.But he did know Florence, and he liked that they did have something in common.She was as beautiful as she had been when he had worked with her years ago.
Lacy brought her grandfather the cinnamon roll, then he got out of his chair and hugged her.“I’m glad we can work this out between us.”
“There is nothing to work out.You were right in the way you reacted when hunters killed Grandmother.I should have considered how devastated you were when it happened, and then I added to all the distress by not trusting that you had done what you had to do.You have Mrs.Fitz to thank for making me see the light.”
