But I kept myself in check. Swapped out several faulty boards before texting her back. Finished work on the whole deck before telling her I was in town. Snapped a photo of Lucy in the park to try and sweeten the deal.
“Sure. Is there something you need? Everything all right?”
I try not to let the edge creep into my voice. Gran is an active seventy-nine year old with minimal medical issues, but anytime she talks about her health, a sharp knife of anxiety cuts me to my core. I cannot fathom losing my only family. I have to remember how to breathe; act like a normal human.
Lucy senses my anxiety and rises from her splayed out position. Her cool nose presses into my palm.
“I am perfect, thank you for asking,” Gran says and bends to collect Lucy’s leash. She adjusts her blue rimmed cat-eye glasses, then taps my cheek. “Sweet boy. I’m meeting up with Maeve. They’re showingThe Sound of Musicat the Woodland Cinema tonight. You’re welcome to join.”
My lips twitch. I try not to let on that her statement bothered me, but I can feel my shoulders visibly drop in relief.
“Oh, uh, no. I’m sure no one wants me stinking up the theatre. You guys have fun, though.”
“I’m certain we will. I have a long-standing crush on Captain von Trapp, you know.”
I laugh and lead Lucy and Gran from the park. “Christopher Plummer does have a bit of the same look as Papa did.”
Gran makes a low noise, like I’ve wounded her. I stiffen. I should know better than to mention him. Gran lost her first and only love the spring I left Beaver Creek. I never got to mourn him and she mourned him alone. Despite the years, it’s still a raw wound.
“He does,” Gran says absently, then fluffs her head of curls that went grey long ago, but she continues to dye the same shade as my own. “You know Maeve’s granddaughter Eva?”
I make a noncommittal noise in the back of my throat. I don’t give her any further response. I can feel myself closing up, and Lucy’s nose presents itself in my palm once more. Maeve has been Gran’s best friend since, well, since forever. They moved to town around the same time, raised babies together, weathered hardships together. Gran has spent the better part of the last ten years trying to set me up with Eva.
Eva’s a lovely person, truly. She’s just made it very clear she wants absolutely nothing to do with me. And I respect that.
Maeve, too much of a busybody to retire, still works at the pharmacy. She also functions via gossip through everyone’s prescriptions and what she’s able to pry from patrons at the pick-up counter.
“Eva works at the library.”
“I know,” I say and keep my gaze trained on the pharmacy just steps away from us. Maeve, tall, fit, and white-blonde, waits for us outside the doors. “She’s been working there for over a year now.”
“You should talk to her about doing something for your next book there.”
“I just did a book event at the library.”
I don’t tell her that I was largelynotwell received. Sure, I made some sales and had some chats I wouldn’t have otherwise, but I knew. There were people I went to school with, and legacy citizens around Gran’s age that looked at me warily. Who wants the problem kid back in town?
“Oh, I know, darling. I just want what’s best for you. I know you’re thriving. I’m proud of you for being able to go full-time writing.”
“Thank you.”
“But I do love having you close. I loveseeingyour success in person. All your silly events in Toronto are too far for this old lady.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re hardly old, Gran. Did you forget you ran a marathon last month?”
She waves me off, but I catch the smirk on her lips. Gran might be more comfortable in Beaver Creek, but, in my experience, there’s very little that will stop her from getting what she wants. Which is why the Eva situation worries me. I smile as we come under the red and white awning of the pharmacy. I don’t know who manages the flower beds under the windows on each side of the wooden door, but they always look perfect. A beautiful mix of wildflowers pepper the garden.
“Hello, Zander,” Maeve says, lips pursed.
I duck my head in recognition, the bill of my grey baseball cap obscuring my eyes. Despite all of Gran’s convincing, Maeve has never taken to me. I suspect one reason why Eva is less than enthused by my presence has something to do with her grandmother’s opinion.
“How’ve you been lately?” I ask. Lucy’s tail bats the back of my knee, tongue wagging. She wants nothing more than to jump all over Maeve and beg for belly rubs, but I learned long ago that Maeve is not a fan of this. “Lucy says hi.”
Maeve simply looks down at my dog. “I’ve been doing well. Better than Paulie Williams, that’s for sure.”
I huff out a fake chuckle while simultaneously tightening my fingers on Lucy’s leash. I know this is Gran’s oldest friendship and I will never do anything to fuck it up…but, really? Why her?
“I should head out,” I say, nodding toward the impending sunset as if that means anything. “Hope you guys have fun at the movie.”
