“Oh, I don’t know,” she snapped, keeping her voice low. “Maybe because you were mean to Jake.”
My mouth dropped in shock. “I wasmeanto him? He wasn’t supposed to be here. All he’s done is mess up my dates with Max. He knew we were coming today.”
She shrugged. “Maybe so, but he always visits me when he’s in town. He knows I like to see him.”
I wasn’t expecting to hear that.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” I questioned. Why would he keep his visits with her a secret from me?
Tears formed in her eyes, and she smiled. “Being with me helps him connect to your grandfather. I know it makes him sadto talk about it, so I’m assuming that’s why. He doesn’t want to let those emotions get to him. You know it was your grandfather who helped him with his golf swing.”
I remembered those days like it was yesterday. My grandfather and Jake would be in the backyard practicing for hours. He knew Jake would be a success and voiced it for many years before Jake went pro. Even Jake’s father would join in and take lessons from my grandfather.
“Pappy would be so proud of Jake if he were here,” I murmured.
She reached over and held my hand. “Just like we all are. He means so much to us, including you, even if you don’t want to admit it.”
“Seriously? Between you and Violet, I don’t know who’s worse.”
Her gaze narrowed. “What has Violet said?”
I huffed out a sigh. “She says that Jake wants to be with me.”
I waited for a response and all she did was smile. “She would be right, Liddy Bug. Jake cares about you.”
“Of course he does, Nana,” I said. “I care about him, too. He’s one of my best friends.”
She shook her head. “No, not like friends.”
When I looked at her like she’d lost her mind, she gave me that stern expression that meant I better not disagree. She moved closer and her gaze never wavered from mine.
“No, sweetheart, he cares for you like your grandfather cared for me, like your father does with your mother.”
“Has he said that specifically?” I asked. “Like, have those words left his lips, and you’ve heard them?”
“I don’t have to hear it, Liddy Bug. I see it. I’ve seen it for years. You’ve just been blind to it.”
“He’s not an option, Nana.”
She scoffed. “Says who? You make your own choices.”
What if Jake was one of the paths Margaret presented me with initially? Would I have chosen him? My heart knew the answer, but my mind argued against it. Everything led to Max.
“Max is a sweet guy, Lydia,” Nana proclaimed. “I know you two could be very happy together. Just make sure you explore all options before you settle down. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on the epic love I had with your grandfather.”
An epic love. We would all be so lucky to have that.
She let my arms go and hugged me. “It’s time you found your happily ever after, Lydia.”
“I agree,” I whispered, letting her go. “Let’s see if I can make that happen.”
We walked out and sat down at the table with Max and John. My grandmother reached over and lovingly patted John’s hand, her smile bright as she looked at him. As I watched them, the mistletoe on my sweater tingled with warmth. It was a comforting feeling, almost like what I was witnessing something that was meant to be.
“Lydia?”
I jerked my attention to Max, who smiled and reshuffled the cards. “We ready?”
Nodding, I touched my mistletoe, my mind reeling. I wish I knew what it meant when the mistletoe reacted.
