He laid the envelope on the counter—he’d give it to her later when no one else was around—and hurried to the rear porch.
Gran’s jade eyes sparkled, and her hands clasped together with glee as she watched her gift near the final stages of assembly. She turned her head toward him and burst into a broader smile. “Thank you for the wonderful present. You all outdid yourselves this year.”
Wait until you see what else I got you.He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Happy Birthday, Gran.”
Archer laid the screwdriver on top of the toolbox and wiped his hand on his jeans. “It’s ready to go, Gran. Want to give it a try?”
“Yes.” Gran moved to the swing with agility belying her eight decades of life. She lowered to the seat and patted the empty left side, indicating for Landon to join her.
No one told Gran no. Everybody always answered her with a yes, not out of obligation, but from a place of profound love for her.
The bearings, not yet broken in, creaked under his added weight. He put his feet flat on the ground and pushed back gently. The swing moved in fluid, calming motions. “What do you think?”
Gran’s eyes shone with complete contentment as they glided back and forth. “It’s perfect. I’ll enjoy many mornings sitting out here while I watch the birds come for their breakfast.”
Madison, Archer’s wife, stood by Gran. “We can move lunch out here if you’d like.”
“Let’s do it. We won’t have many more days this season with this beautiful weather.” Gran started to stand, but the ladies put a quick end to it.
Tanya gave Gran’s shoulder a loving nudge. “It’s your day. Sit and enjoy.”
Reluctant to leave Gran’s side, Landon lingered on the swing, letting his siblings take care of the food. “Where are they?”
“Your mom and dad?” Gran arched a brow, giving voiceless censure. “For better or worse, they are your parents.”
“Where are my mother and father? I saw her car but not his.” Bile burned his throat at the rephrased question. He’d promised not to make a scene, though, and Gran preferred he reference his parents by their biological position.
She patted his knee and smirked. “Was that so hard?”
Feeling every bit the petulant child, he wrinkled his nose. “Yes.”
“Tsk, tsk.” Gran shook her head.
“I have another present for you.” He replaced his scowl with his best smile. “Want it now?”
“This swing was more than enough. You didn’t have to get me anything else.”
“I wanted to.” He rose to his feet. “I’ll be right back.”
He ran inside, heard his siblings preoccupied in a conversation about the merits of internet-based TV service, grabbed the envelope, and returned to Gran. Once he sat beside her again on the swing, he presented the gift. “Here, open it.”
Her head tilted to the side. A strand of dove-white hair fell across her forehead, and she brushed it aside before sliding a finger under the envelope flap. She folded it back and pulled out the papers, studied them. A mild expression of confusion danced across her face, like a cloud passing over the silver moon. “What is this?”
“A weekend away, Gran. I found this little town in upstate New York on one of my routes. The first time I saw it, I thought of you.”
“I haven’t gone away in…” Her gaze shifted upward, followed by a brief bout of silence. “Goodness, I can’t even remember.”
He realized what he’d read as confusion was Gran stunned at his surprise. “I know, and you deserve a vacation, however brief. You’re always so busy taking care of everybody else, it’s time you take a break.”
“Fiddlesticks.” Gran’s face pinched together. “Ever since I left the hospitaltwo years agoI’ve been taken care of day and night.”
“As well you should be.”
“How would I get there?” The lilt of her voice told him the idea was growing on her.
“Me. I wasn’t going to send you all alone.” He wagged his brows. “That is if you can take an entire weekend of your favorite grandson.”
She shook a finger. “Now, you know I have no favorites. You each claim the same size spot in my heart.”
