After we said our goodbyes, I quickly showered and put on a cream sweater and jeans together with my brown boots. I didn’t have time to dry my hair fully, so I put it in a side braid.
It only took a few minutes to get to Sweet Spot Bakery and grab the muffins. By the time I made it to Willow Creek Village, it was eight o’clock. I walked inside toward my grandmother’s hallway, and it felt like I was just there. My dream when I visited her and met Max seemed so real.
Her door was decorated like it always was this time of year, but there was a new addition . . . a Santa Claus hanging from the doorknob. It was cute.
“Knock, knock,” I called out, tapping on the door gently.
“Coming, Liddy Bug!”
Hearing her call out my nickname always warmed my heart. When she opened the door, I expected her to fling it wide, but she only cracked it and waved me in.
“Hurry before someone sees me.”
Her bright white hair was in rollers, and she was still in her Christmas housecoat, which had cats with Santa hats all over it. My grandfather had given it to her one year, thinking it would be a gag gift that she’d stow away in her closet, but she ended up loving it.
Laughing, I rushed inside and shut the door behind me.
“Since when do you care if people see you in your rollers and housecoat?” She stared at me as if I’d lost my mind, and then I noticed she had on more makeup than usual. It made her look younger. My mouth dropped, and I put her muffins and my purse on the small kitchen table in her dining nook. “Nana, are you trying to impress someone?”
She clasped her hands in front of her, looking sheepish. “Maybe,” she answered.
Never in my life would I have thought she’d ever open her heart up to another man besides my grandfather. She was dead set against it, but now there was a light in her eyes that hadn’t been in a long time.
“Who is he?”
Her smile widened. “Do you remember when we played cards on Christmas Eve in the rec room two years ago, and you invited a young man and his grandfather to join us?”
The breath hitched in my lungs, and I froze. Was she talking about Max Harper and his grandfather, John, from my dreams? That couldn’t be right. They weren’t real.
The world spun around me, and I had no clue what was real and what wasn’t. I pinched my arm to make sure I was awake and felt the sting shoot up my arm. I did it again and again, and each time, it hurt. I was awake. This wasn’t a dream.
“I think I remember,” I said, saying the words slowly. “What were their names again?”
I held my breath, wondering if I would hear Max’s name. How could that be possible? I know I’d never met him in real life.
My grandmother grinned even wider. “Surely, you haven’t forgotten Max, have you? He was such a good-looking boy. And when I saw him two weeks ago, the first thing he mentioned was you.” She winked. “I think he’s single, too.”
I could only stand there and stare at her like an idiot. I had no words. What could I say that wouldn’t make me sound like a complete lunatic?
My grandmother’s brows furrowed. “You remember him, right?”
“Yeah, I think so,” I answered, feeling as if my mind was going to explode. Nothing made sense.
“Anyway,” she continued, waving a hand in the air, “I wondered why I never saw John again after that Christmas Eve and it’s because his family had some money issues with his estate. Now that it’s been taken care of, he’s back; he moved in two weeks ago. He and Max came to see me, and they asked about you.” She pointed at the door. “John is the one who gave me the Santa on the door. Isn’t it adorable?”
Still, I had no words. It was all surreal.
My grandmother’s expression shifted to concern. She walked over and clutched my arms. “Liddy Bug, are you okay? Are you angry with me?” Her gaze saddened. “I don’t want you upset about this situation with John. I know you miss your pappy.”
I gasped and hugged her tight. “Oh, Nana, no!” I let her go, and I could feel the burn behind my eyes. “You’ve been alone for five years. I want you to be happy. If being around John does that, I am all for it.”
Her smile trembled. “Thanks, honey. I had such a fantastic time playing cards and talking with him on that Christmas Eve.I was a little disappointed when I never saw him again.” She perked up and patted the rollers on her head. “But now he’s back and we’re going to play cards. I just have to finish getting ready.”
I pointed over at the box of muffins. “Well, you have breakfast now. The muffins were freshly baked this morning. I should probably get to the gallery and open up.”
My grandmother smiled and patted my cheek. “I appreciate you bringing me the muffins, dear.”
“You’re welcome, Nana.” I moved over to the table to grab my purse. “Call me if you need anything. Also, Mom told me to tell you that she’ll be by this afternoon.”
