Instead of heading straight to Goldie’s, I go through the woods to the house. It’s not too far. When I see Grandma Donna sitting on the Friendship Bench, and she’s alone, it seems meant to be. My grandma has taken a bench in the gardens and turned it into a place where she hands out free therapy and knitted trinkets. It’s actually quite sweet how the town has taken to her. The last time I was home, I set up an online appointment system for her, since it was getting confusing with all the sign-up sheets around Windy Harbor.
She gasps when she sees me. “Sweetheart! You startled me. I didn’t know you were back already. That was a quick trip.”
I bend down and kiss her cheek and sit down next to her. “Sorry to startle you. Am I interrupting anyone’s appointment?”
I look around but don’t see anyone.
“I have a half-hour window,” she says.
My lips tilt up when I look at her. “Sign me up.”
“You look sad,” she says gently.
I huff a breath through my nose. “Yeah.”
She nudges my knee with hers. “Can I help?”
My throat tightens for no good reason.
“You’re helping just by being you,” I tell her.
“Well, lucky for you, I’m good at that.” She smiles, settling back.
I laugh under my breath. We sit a second longer, shoulder to shoulder.
“Since you don’t seem to want to talk about you, Camden sent me a picture of one of his meals last night,” she says. “It’s had me craving his food all day.”
“Dude can cook and plate it to perfection.”
She laughs, bright and sudden. “Meanwhile, little Grayson was thrilled to get a dinosaur pancake for dinner last night. Maybe he’ll be like his Uncle Camden and be a chef. Or like his daddy and build something glorious.” She waves her hand around and then grins at me mischievously. “Or maybe he’ll be an amazing business owner and activity coordinator like his Uncle Dylan…he could even decorate houses like his Aunt Goldie. We just don’t know.”
I take the bait and smirk. “I guess you don’t want him to be a professional hockey player like Uncle Tully?” I point my thumb at myself.
She pats my hand. “I just worry about you, doncha know. It’s a wonder you still have that pretty face and all your teeth, with all those fists that sometimes go flying.”
I rub my chin and grin. “You think this mug is pretty, huh?”
She laughs again. “You know I do. All my grandbabies are pretty.”
A leaf lands in her hair. I reach over and pull it out. She picks up her knitting and winks.
“Thank you.” She glances at me. “We still not talking about you, honey?”
I sigh. “I’ve never talked a lot about certain things.”
“You mean about the ladies in your life?”
I laugh. “That makes me sound like there are tons of ladies.” I make a face. “I guess there are quite a few ladies.”
“Things are done differently these days. I’m told that as long as all parties are on board with that, it shouldn’t be a problem. And I’ve seen firsthand how they throw themselves at you. It’d be hard to resist!”
I turn to face her, and she giggles at the look on my face. “Look at you, so progressive. I resist plenty.” I lean in. “Do you have anything you’d like to tellmeaboutyourlove life?”
“What?” She places her hand on her heart and starts laughing. “Me? Why would you say such a thing? There is no love life for me.”
“That’s not what I saw the last time I was here. Every time I turned around, Hector Fair was trying his best to woo you.”
She covers her mouth and then laughs so hard she has to hold my arm. I steady her, laughing along with her.
