“Did she interrupt anything?”
Spencer coughed, practically choking on his mouthful of cider. “Nana Jo.”
“I know you’re not a man to kiss and tell.” She shrugged not-so-innocently. “I was just curious.”
The woman had no shame. And he was too excited to keep it to himself.
“I told Trinity how I felt about her,” he said.
“And how do you feel about her?”
“I like her,” he added, drawing in another sip of the warm drink. “And as it turns out, she likes me, too.”
“Could have told you that.”
“You know, Grandma, not everything is as obvious as you think it is.”
“Sure, but with the two of you, it’s obvious. And let’s be totally honest here, Spencer, you’ve never really been able tokeep your feelings hidden. You’re a what-you-see-is-what-you-get sort of guy.”
“Hmm.” He placed his mug onto the table and ran his thumb down the side, eyes focused on the caramel-colored liquid inside.
“Hmm, what?”
He looked up. “That’s how Trinity described her late husband, too.”
Nana Jo got quiet for a moment, just observing her grandson. Then she straightened a little in her chair when she said, “You know, I wouldn’t say the two of you were all that similar. Not on the outside, at least. What I knew of Calvin was that he was a gregarious man with an infectious laugh and a big personality. But on the inside where it counts, I actually do think the two of you are more alike than you may think. He was a man of deep faith and conviction. And healwaysput others first. Those are qualities I see in you, Spencer.”
It was a compliment, but in a way, Spencer almost felt uncomfortable hearing the words. He didn’t want to be like Trinity’s husband, if only for that fact that he knew he would never be able to live up to the man’s legacy.
“What are you thinking?” Nana Jo pressed over the table between them, bringing herself closer.
“That those are some big shoes to fill.”
“Good thing you don’t need to fill them.”
He gave his grandmother a perplexed look. “What do you mean?”
“Is Trinity asking you to replace Calvin?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Of course not.”
“She’s not looking for someone to fill in where Calvin no longer is. That’s the past, and it can’t be repeated. All that she has to look forward to is her future, and the future is alwaysnew. New adventures. New relationships. New opportunities for love.”
“I worry that I won’t be able to give her what she needs.”
Nana Jo’s age-lined hands came over Spencer’s and cupped them gently. “Have you asked her what she needs? What she’s looking for?” Then she gave her grandson a playful swat on his arm when she added, “Or were you two too busy making out to have an actual conversation?”
“Nana!”
“Hey, I might be old, but I’m not dead. I know what goes on between two people when they’re in love.”
“We are not in love.”
“Maybe not yet, but that’s always the hope, right? That like turns into love,” she asked. “That’s my hope for the two of you, at least. More accurately, it’s my prayer.”
“You pray about stuff like this?”
“The happiness of my grandchildren? ‘Course, I do. And it looks like my prayers are being answered for both you and your sister. Couldn’t be happier.”
