Chapter Twenty-Two
Kenzi braced her elbows as she pushed Grandma’s wheelchair across the plush carpet. Sweat gathered between her shoulder blades. Why was family so much work? Seriously. All she wanted to do was spend the evening verbally sparring with Nash. He was so cute to think he could be a farmer. What a sweet, delusional man she’d married.
“Right here will be just fine.” Grandma pointed into the library.
Kenzi turned the chair in that direction. The chair itself was a sleek new model, black with hot-rod-red accents. When Iron Man was a hundred years old, he’d pick this model to zoom around in and drive Pepper Potts crazy—just like Grandma did to her granddaughters.
“I’ve texted Lunette and Raquel. They should be here momentarily.” She tucked her cell under her thigh, where it must have been hidden before since Kenzi hadn’t seen it.
Kenzi sat on the chair opposite her grandma, the red fabric ottoman between them. “How are you?” she asked by way of polite conversation.
“I’m well, thank you for asking.” If Grandma had a teacup in her hand, she would have taken a dainty sip.
Speaking of tea … “Would you like something to drink?”
“Drinking is part of the reason I’m here.”
Kenzi’s heart bounced around in her rib cage like a pinball. She and Raquel had yet to talk to Lunette about her problem. The time delay was partially because it took Lunette a couple days to pull herself together. As soon as she did, she was riddled with guilt for missing Hattie’s party and had thrown herself into being the best mom on the planet. They’d gone to the zoo, the movies, the ballet, a basketball game, and visited sweet shops all over town.
Lunette’s erratic mothering was sunshine and cow poop. If she could just find a middle ground and even out …
Kenzi chewed her lip. “Grandma, I don’t think Lunette is in a place to be singled out. She had a rough week.”
Grandma smacked her hand on her leg. “This is precisely the time to strike, when her disappointment in herself is the strongest.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “I didn’t say anything—”
Her lecture was cut short by Raquel and Lunette’s arrival. They were both a flutter of kisses on thin cheeks and delicate hugs around frail shoulders, practically smothering the old woman with their affection.
Grandma beamed. “Look at you two go on.” She cupped Raquel’s cheek and patted Lunette’s hand. “As pretty as your mama.” Her eyes misted over.
“I miss her, too, Gran.” Only Lunette could get away with calling GrandmaGran.
“Sit. Sit. Both of you.” Grandma waved them to the couch, and they sat side by side like two little peas in a pod. They smiled benignly at Kenzi.
Kenzi rubbed her arms.
“How was your dinner?” asked Raquel. She lifted her nose in a you-can’t-put-one-past-me smugness.
“It was lovely. Thank you for asking.” Kenzi could have gloated over Guy’s pronouncement that he was on Team Kenzi for the vote, but she didn’t. Someone had to take the high road, and as the oldest, she should know better.
Grandma cleared her throat, the sound raspy, like she had holes in her vocal cords. “You two were never meant to be friends, but can you at least act like sisters?”
Kenzi started with offense. “What do you mean, we weren’t meant to be friends?”
“Yeah.” Raquel’s smugness melted.
“The gap in your ages created a difficult dynamic for siblings to overcome.” She tipped her head towards Kenzi. “You were the adored child: smart, athletic, creative. And then along came Raquel, and she was a doll. You worked harder at being smart to gain attention that was so easily handed to a baby simply because she was a beautiful baby.”
Kenzi refrained from rolling her eyes. “I’m not a child any more, Grandma.”
“No, but the script has been written and is still being played out.” She shook her finger at the two of them. “It’s got to stop. Either you figure out how to work together, or you’ll ruin the family.”
Lunette snapped her gum.
“And you.” Grandma’s finger turned on the youngest. “Stop drinking.”
Raquel glanced at Kenzi, panic screaming from her eyes.
“I shouldn’t have outlived my daughter, may she rest in peace. But I sure as heck shouldn’t outlive my granddaughter. You’re messing with the natural order of things, and I’ll not have it. Do you hear me, young lady?”
