She pulled away, her gaze searching mine. “What was that?”
Honestly, I didn’t know what the hell had just happened. I couldn’t exactly tell her the truth, which was that I felt like a piece of me that had always been missing just slid into place. “Depends. Do you regret it?”
“That’s for me to know and for you to maybe find out.” She pulled her hand away, but the tinge of pink flushing her cheeks made me think she might have enjoyed that kiss just as much as I did. “How about we get the rest of that dog food? I’ve got a couple dozen hungry pitties to feed and don’t you have that appointment with the contractor this afternoon?”
“Sure do.” I followed her back into the feed store to pick up another load.
There was something about her that tugged at a piece of me deep down inside. She knew what it was like to be left. From what I’d learned about her story, her mom died a few years ago and her dad bailed when Zeb came home a broken version of the hero who’d gone off to war. We were two of a kind. The only difference was she stuck around to fight her battles while I made myself scarce, hoping to outrun the wounds of my past.
All of a sudden, I was sorry the wedding date got moved up. If only because it meant I wouldn’t have a reason to stick around Ido once it was over.
CHAPTER 7
ALEX
I somehow madeit through the initial meeting with the contractor even though I had a hard time concentrating after that kiss. I made plans to meet with the man again the next morning, then hightailed it across the river separating Ido from Swynton. I’d promised Char I’d be back to watch the girls before she left for her part-time job at the country club.
Spending time with my nieces would be the perfect opportunity to prove I wanted to pitch in and help while I was in town. I cranked the wheel to turn into the driveway but stopped short when I noticed a van already taking the spot. A decal on the side read ANGEL HANDS NURSING HOME. The name rang a bell. Wasn’t that the one where Gramps had been staying?
My breath hitched as I thought about what that might mean. According to Char, Angel Hands was just about their last resort. If Gramps had been kicked out of one of the last places willing to take him, how would that affect Char?
I swallowed hard. How would that affect me? I’d been more than willing to contribute a little dough here and there to smooth things over and keep my grandfather in care. But if the old man kept pissing people off, where would he go?
The front door opened and a short guy in blue scrubs scurried out. A lamp sailed through the door behind him, followed by Gramps. “Get out and stay out.”
I’d barely made it out of the truck when the van screeched to a halt beside me before grinding into gear and taking off down the street. What the hell was going on? I turned toward the door where my grandfather leaned against the doorway. Char stood next to him, her hand wrapped around his arm, tugging him back into the house.
I hadn’t laid eyes on my grandfather in years. Not since my dad died and I’d dropped out of college, loaded my backpack, and cashed out my savings account for a one-way plane ticket to Oslo. Gramps had frowned and told me I needed to stick around. I’d grinned back at the older man and kept right on packing. I’d promised myself then that I’d never come back, wouldn’t let the people who were supposed to love me the most be the weight that dragged me down.
Somehow, I remembered my grandfather being taller, more intimidating. Not like the stooped, scowling stranger who glared at me as I walked up the drive.
“Alex, thank goodness you’re back. I’ve got to leave for my shift. Jordan can pretty much handle the other girls, but . . .” Her gaze bounced back and forth between me and Gramps.
“Hey, Gramps.” I thrust my hand forward.
The old man grunted and turned away, shuffling toward the easy chair Char kept in the corner of the living room.
“The nursing home brought him over. He can’t stay there anymore.” Char twisted her hands together. “What are we going to do?”
I took in a deep breath through my nose. “You go to work. Gramps and I probably ought to have a heart-to-heart.”
“What good will that do?” Char whispered.
“I’ll just explain to him, guy to guy, that he needs to step up and hold himself in check. He can’t expect you to put everything on hold and take care of him, not with everything else you’ve got on your plate.”
She shoved her hands to her hips. “You think I haven’t tried that before? Ever since Nana died, he’s been unbearable. He keeps saying he wants to go home, but he can’t stay out at the ranch all by himself.”
I smiled as I thought about my grandmother. She was tough—never let me get away with anything—but she was also the only one who’d ever been full of hugs and smiles and fresh-baked cookies. What would Nana do if she were here?
“You go get ready for work. Gramps and I will clean up this mess, get some fresh air, and see if we can sort something out.” I nodded to myself, confident I’d be able to get Gramps to see things my way.
Char rolled her eyes before she disappeared down the hallway.
I glanced out to the sidewalk, where the lamp had shattered into a bazillion pieces, and then wandered into the kitchen in search of a broom and dustpan. My niece Frankie sat at the table dipping her baby carrots into the jar of grape jelly, the damn bird sitting on her shoulder.
“Hey, Frankie, where’s your mom keep the broom?”
She sucked the jelly off the carrot in her hand and then dipped it back into the jar. So much for no double-dipping. I kept having to remind myself I wasn’t living the bachelor life anymore. At least not while I was bunking up with my sister and her kids.
