Felix looks guilty. “She asked! What was I supposed to do, say no?”
“Penny can’t talk. How did she ask?” Kelly asks shrewdly.
Felix grimaces. “Fine; she pointed. But I still couldn’t say no.”
Penny grins at the room, as if announcing that she is well aware of the power she has over her great-grandpa.
“I’ll remind you of this when she won’t go to sleep at midnight,” Kelly threatens good-naturedly.
Miles and I sit down on a loveseat together as we watch the exchange.
“Oh, that’s all right,” Felix says. “We’ll enjoy a good cup of coffee together. I don’t sleep much at night anyway.”
Penny grins at him and pats his cheek as though she’s sealing the deal.
“She’s going to be drinking coffee and sneaking Grandpa’s pipe by the time she’s three. I’d put money on it,” Miles whispers to me.
I press my lips together to keep from laughing at the image of a little toddler sitting at a table with her great-grandpa, smoking a pipe and playing chess.
“Ben and Kelly are going to have to keep an eye on her,” I whisper back.
“More like keep both eyes on Grandpa.” Miles grins.
Felix makes his way over to an open seat close to us just as Lillian turns from where she was deep in conversation with Karis. “Oh my goodness, I didn’t even hear you two walk in, and there you are!” She leaps up and crosses the living room to giveeach of us a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so glad you guys came!”
She returns to her seat next to Andrew, and Felix clears his throat.“You know, when I heard everyone’s plan about getting you two together…I thought it was the worst idea I’d ever heard of.”
I glance at Miles, and he raises his eyebrows, as though he’s long suspected this of being true.
“But then I met you Lucy, and you couldn’t even lie to me. I knew then that you were perfect for Miles. Not to mention an all-around good egg.” He reaches over and pats my hand that’s lying on the arm rest.
“We have an announcement,” Goldie says as she claps her hands together.
The chitter chatter dies down, and we all focus on Goldie.
“I know I’m missing half my grandchildren, but Felix and I will make sure to tell them. As you all know, we have been so excited for our grandchildren to get married and start having families of their own. So excited, in fact, that we put a bounty on it.”
There are some nervous laughs throughout the room. I have no clue where this is going to go.
“And we know exactly who the winner is,” Felix cuts in. He’s smiling at Penny. “We want to give it to Ben and Kelly. We consider you as just as much our grandkids. And Penny, our first great-grandchild. We should have named you the winners of the bet the day you got married.”
Oh, dang it. I’m going to cry. It’s the sweetest thing. I look at Ben and Kelly. There’s a tear sliding down his cheek, and Kelly is clutching his hand. I know it’s the fact that Felix and Goldie love him that means more than money ever could.
Miles jumps to his feet and begins clapping. The rest of the family joins in, slapping Ben on the back, whistling, and hugging Kelly.
“You don’t have to pay us—” Kelly starts to say.
Goldie cuts her off. “We know you’ve been wanting to buy a house. We’re selfishly hoping that we can help you buy something close to us.”
Now Kelly looks like she’s going to cry as she starts nodding.
Penny is perfectly oblivious as she sits on Felix, who’s sneaking her another piece of Hershey’s chocolate.
I sit back down next to him and meet his gaze. “It’s perfect.”
He nods and says quietly, “I knew you would understand. It’s why I’m so glad you’re part of this family for real.”
The couch shifts as Miles sits down next to me and drapes an arm around me. “Out of curiosity, when did you decide you liked Lucy?”
