“You’re at the grocery the same time as we’re at the grocery!” she says with enthusiasm, bouncing on her toes and staring up at me like I’m her hero.
“Looks like it,” I say, glancing over to see Hallie and Mia’s nana.
“Whatcha got in there?” Mia asks, peering into my basket and making a face. “Nothing fun.”
“Nope,” I agree, scanning my practical and nutritious choices through her eyes.
Hallie and her mom approach us. My pulse picks up.
“Greyson,” Hallie’s mom says.
“Mrs. Caldwell,” I say. “Good to see you.” I glance at Hallie. “Hallie.”
“Greyson,” she says, smiling softly and then looking away and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
Is she embarrassed? Nervous? Or just caught off guard like I am?
It’s always slightly unsettling to unexpectedly bump into people outside of their usual context—at least, for me it is.
Mrs. Caldwell eyes the contents of my buggy with an almost identical skepticism as her granddaughter.
“I was about to get meat,” I say, in defense of my groceries.
“Us too,” Mrs. Caldwell says. “Hallie here’s fixin’ ribs.”
“You should taste my mom’s ribs!” Mia exclaims. “They’re the best.”
Hallie’s cheeks pink slightly. She starts to say, “Well …” when Mia interrupts and says, “Do you want to come to dinner?”
I look at Hallie. She closes her eyes and opens them again.
She says, “Sorry,” while her mom says, “Oh, yes. You should join us, Coach. Do you have plans?”
“Pleeeeease,” Mia looks between me and her mom. “Mommy, can he? Can Coach come to dinner?”
“I don’t …” I start to backpedal and excuse myself, but then Hallie says, “If he’s available.”
She glances at me and then her mom.
I’m not sure if she’s being polite or if she actually wants me to come.
“Join us, Greyson,” Mrs. Caldwell says.
Maybe it’s the lingering need to prove I’m not a hopelessloner after my earlier talk with Mrs. Kinkaid, or it could simply be the way Hallie and Mia are staring at me with twin expressions of anticipation.
I open my mouth and the words that come out seem to equally surprise all four of us.
“I’d be glad to join you. What can I bring?”
Chapter 14
Hallie
Cooking is like love.
It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.
~ Harriet Van Horne
