I look back and see a clock. It’s almost eleven. “Wow. I can’t believe I slept for so long.”
“You probably needed it. I have some bagels, cream cheese and lox. If you want something fancier, we’ll have to hit a brunch place.” He straightens a little. “Actually, Nieve has a great champagne brunch—”
“I’m fine with a bagel and cream cheese, as long as the bagel can be toasted first, and I get some strong coffee with it.”
“No problem. Lox?”
I wrinkle my nose. “Is that the salmon thing?”
“Yeah.”
“No, thanks. I don’t know about having fish first thing in the morning.”
He laughs and takes me to the counter in the kitchen. It’s huge, with copper pots and pans hanging from above. The stove has six burners, a huge griddle and an indoor grill. I count two ovens and two microwaves, but there might be more. Everything in the kitchen, including the double fridges, is spotless and shiny. Like it’s never been used before.
“Do you cook?” I ask.
He starts the coffee. The machine begins to fill the area with the bittersweet aroma. “No. I have a chef who comes over and cooks when I know my schedule’s going to be easy, but that’s not very often,” he says, pulling out a tub of cream cheese from the fridge and throwing two pre-cut bagels into a toaster.
“So why do you have a kitchen this fancy?”
“My interior designer. He thought I should have everything I could possibly want, just in case.” He glances at the copper above him. “And, you know. It looks nice.” He shrugs.
I look up at the pots and pans. They not only look nice, but expensive. I wouldn’t dare touch them, lest I scratch them. The interior designer probably went crazy.
Grant serves two mugs of coffee, giving me one. When the toaster spits out the bagels, he puts them on two porcelain plates and hands me a bread knife. “By the way, do you want some jam?” Moving with elaborate casualness, he pulls out a jar of Sun Valley Farms’ organic strawberry.
“Yes. Thank you,” I say with a smile. I haven’t had it insolong. It wasn’t something I could afford once Grandpa had to move into the assisted living center.
We sit in a comfortable silence. I take the jam, feeling like I’m back in time when everything was okay. It continues to surprise me that the smallest luxury can have the power to make me feel better. But it’s not just the luxury aspect—it’s the thoughtfulness behind it, the kindness.
After I finish more than half my breakfast and most of my coffee, Grant says, “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Yeah?” I take a sip of the coffee, looking at him over the rim. His expression’s too serious, and that’s making me nervous.
“I was looking into the situation with your grandmother’s grave. There’s a plot next to hers, and my people are already on it to get it for Kenny if you still want it.”
I stare at him, stunned. “It’s only been a day. Not even. And it’s Saturday.”
“Things can happen fast if you’re willing to throw some money around.” He gives me another mug of coffee.
My first knee-jerk reaction is to decline. I don’t want to give Grant any reason to think I could be here with him for his money.
“I want to do it for you.” It’s like he read my mind. “And for Kenny and Kat. They were in love, and I admire them for always being there for you. It’s the least I can do.”
“But…it’s too much.”
“No.” He reaches over and holds my hand in his, tracing the diagonal line on my palm with his thumb. “It’s actually very little. Besides, if the situation were reversed, you’d do the same for me, right?”
“Well… Yeah, but—”
“So don’t reject me.”
He knows exactly how to convince me. I sigh. “Okay. Thank you.”
A smile breaks out over his face. It’s as bright and mesmerizing as the sun emerging from the clouds after a long storm. And I know I’ve made the right decision.
* * *
