“And that’s my Aunt Vivien’s suite,” he continued. “She used to share with her daughter, my cousin, but Spacey Lacey has gone off to Jacksonville to be an NFL girlfriend.”
“Tessa’s son, given up for adoption,” Pepper recalled, with a wistful note in her voice. “What a sweet story.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he joked. “But the guy’s in the NFL. That’s the sweet part. Anyway, over there is my sister’s room. If Meredith’s not here, she’s working. If she’s here, she’s working. Basically, if she’s breathing, she’s working. And over there is a revolving guest room, currently occupied by Dr. Kate Wylie?—”
“Your dad’s girlfriend,” she supplied.
“Uh, yes.” He gave her a look, then leaned down. “I’m not sure of their status right now. If you pick up some tea, let me know, okay?”
“Family gossip is in my job description?” she asked on a laugh.
“Nothing untoward, just…insight.” He waved her back to the stairs. “Follow me. You sure you’re good carrying him up and down stairs?”
“I better be.”
As he walked, he talked over his shoulder. “Oh, the grannies are above the garage.”
“Maggie?”
“That’s my grandmother. Steel Magnolia, literally. Judgey, controlling, and Atlas is her kryptonite.”
“Good to know. And the other woman? Jo Ellen?”
“Mother of Kate and Tessa. Sweet as pie, which she will make you eat. If it’s the humble version, that came from Maggie.”
She chuckled at his descriptions, a little awe in her expression as she took in the house and the backstories of its residents.
Just as they walked into the kitchen for a bottle lesson, the door to the garage opened and Maggie breezed in, as if on cue.
His grandmother wore tailored slacks and a soft blue blouse that matched her gaze, which narrowed and settled on Pepper.
“Ah, the nanny we apparently needed in a house full of women.”
Jonah snorted. “Grandma Maggie, Atlas is a big job. And yes, this is Pepper, who has signed on to help while I’m interning at Driftwood.”
“We met briefly at the wedding,” Pepper said, extending her hand. “Hello, Mrs. Lawson.”
Shaking Pepper’s hand, Maggie’s gaze went briefly to Atlas, and her whole face softened ten percent, which was the equivalent of another woman bursting into song.
“Is my great-grandson behaving for you?”
“He’s an angel.”
“Of course he is.” Maggie’s eyes came back to Pepper, then Jonah. “My grandson is an excellent judge of character, so I assume you must be a suitable person to be in charge of Atlas.”
“I guess you’ll be the judge of that, Mrs. Lawson.”
Jonah choked softly just as Jo Ellen fluttered into the kitchen wearing a multi-colored dress and her usual smile.
“Oh, honey, don’t pay her any mind. She’d grill the postman.” She bustled around Maggie and took Pepper’s free hand in both of her own. “Aren’t you a pretty thing? Did someone offer you wine?”
“Wine?” Maggie croaked.
“Not while I’m taking care of Atlas, but thank you.”
Jonah watched his grandmother’s eyes track Pepper, stay there, assess, and pass judgment all in the time it would take another woman to blink.
Then she gave him the tiniest, almost imperceptible nod.
