by Leah Atwood
Gran’s laugh filtered into the kitchen from the back porch. He’d remember her distinctive bubbly laugh for many years after she left this earth, which hopefully wouldn’t be for a long time. Gran was his constant—the one person he knew unequivocally he could turn to at any time. Even as his siblings married and their relationships changed, Gran remained the same.
He laid the envelope on the counter—he’d give it to her later when no one else was around—and hurried to the rear porch.
Gran’s jade eyes sparkled, and her hands clasped together with glee as she watched her gift near the final stages of assembly. She turned her head toward him and burst into a broader smile. “Thank you for the wonderful present. You all outdid yourselves this year.”
Wait until you see what else I got you. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Happy Birthday, Gran.”
Archer laid the screwdriver on top of the toolbox and wiped his hand on his jeans. “It’s ready to go, Gran. Want to give it a try?”
“Yes.” Gran moved to the swing with agility belying her eight decades of life. She lowered to the seat and patted the empty left side, indicating for Landon to join her.
No one told Gran no. Everybody always answered her with a yes, not out of obligation, but from a place of profound love for her.
The bearings, not yet broken in, creaked under his added weight. He put his feet flat on the ground and pushed back gently. The swing moved in fluid, calming motions. “What do you think?”
Gran’s eyes shone with complete contentment as they glided back and forth. “It’s perfect. I’ll enjoy many mornings sitting out here while I watch the birds come for their breakfast.”
Madison, Archer’s wife, stood by Gran. “We can move lunch out here if you’d like.”
“Let’s do it. We won’t have many more days this season with this beautiful weather.” Gran started to stand, but the ladies put a quick end to it.
Tanya gave Gran’s shoulder a loving nudge. “It’s your day. Sit and enjoy.”
Reluctant to leave Gran’s side, Landon lingered on the swing, letting his siblings take care of the food. “Where are they?”
“Your mom and dad?” Gran arched a brow, giving voiceless censure. “For better or worse, they are your parents.”
“Where are my mother and father? I saw her car but not his.” Bile burned his throat at the rephrased question. He’d promised not to make a scene, though, and Gran preferred he reference his parents by their biological position.
She patted his knee and smirked. “Was that so hard?”
Feeling every bit the petulant child, he wrinkled his nose. “Yes.”
“Tsk, tsk.” Gran shook her head.
“I have another present for you.” He replaced his scowl with his best smile. “Want it now?”
“This swing was more than enough. You didn’t have to get me anything else.”
“I wanted to.” He rose to his feet. “I’ll be right back.”
He ran inside, heard his siblings preoccupied in a conversation about the merits of internet-based TV service, grabbed the envelope, and returned to Gran. Once he sat beside her again on the swing, he presented the gift. “Here, open it.”
Her head tilted to the side. A strand of dove-white hair fell across her forehead, and she brushed it aside before sliding a finger under the envelope flap. She folded it back and pulled out the papers, studied them. A mild expression of confusion danced across her face, like a cloud passing over the silver moon. “What is this?”
“A weekend away, Gran. I found this little town in upstate New York on one of my routes. The first time I saw it, I thought of you.”
“I haven’t gone away in…” Her gaze shifted upward, followed by a brief bout of silence. “Goodness, I can’t even remember.”
He realized what he’d read as confusion was Gran stunned at his surprise. “I know, and you deserve a vacation, however brief. You’re always so busy taking care of everybody else, it’s time you take a break.”
“Fiddlesticks.” Gran’s face pinched together. “Ever since I left the hospital two years ago I’ve been taken care of day and night.”
“As well you should be.”
“How would I get there?” The lilt of her voice told him the idea was growing on her.
“Me. I wasn’t going to send you all alone.” He wagged his brows. “That is if you can take an entire weekend of your favorite grandson.”
She shook a finger. “Now, you know I have no favorites. You each claim the same size spot in my heart.”
“I know.” Still, he relaxed his posture and rested in the truth they both knew—she loved him and his siblings equally, but he and his grandmother shared a special bond. “The reservations are for the first weekend in November, but I can change the date if needed.”
“Jasper Lake. I like the name.” She held the paper in front of her, her eyes discreetly shifting as she read. “The town sounds charming.”
“It is. You’ll love it.”
Her eyes widened when she flipped the page. “Is the bed and breakfast really pink?”
“Yes.” Glad he’d gone with his hunch of the bed and breakfast over a cabin, he met her gaze. “So you’ll go?”
Gran drew in a long breath. The look in her eyes made Landon squirm. What was she up to?
She slid an arm through his and patted his hand. “I’ll go on one condition.”
“Gifts shouldn’t be accepted with conditions.”
“You’re right. But this, in turn, will be a gift for you.” Her pale hand wrapped around his, not even covering half.
Bad vibes shot through him. He had a feeling he knew where this was going. “What is it?”
“You invite your parents to come along.”
His breath left him in a loud whoosh. “Gran …”
She held her palm out to him. “You have to make peace with them.”
“They have all of you fooled into thinking they’ve changed, but old habits die hard.”
“I believe they have, but whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter.” She cupped his shoulder, and her gaze bore into his. “This bitterness in your soul isn’t good, my child. Release it for your own sake, if not theirs.”
He suppressed the growl fighting to roar. Why wouldn’t everyone just let it be? “The bed and breakfast only had the two rooms left for that weekend. There wouldn’t be room for them.”
Gran didn’t bat an eye and stared at him with resolute conviction. “I’m sure we can find accommodations nearby or change weekends if needed.”
The back door opened, and the rest of his family poured onto the rear porch, including his mother and father who must have come home in the last few minutes. Smiles covered all their faces, and they appeared a normal, happy family.
Except they weren’t. His parents had given up any rights to that.
Set to tell Gran no, he turned back to her, but the hope etched into her time-worn wrinkles stopped him. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter Three
Jessa’s temples pulsed. After two hours of debate, the city council members still hadn’t reached a consensus. She had a spot on the council by way of her position at the chamber of commerce, but it was the one responsibility she wouldn’t mind giving up—at least for today.
The condition of Jasper Lake’s roadways caused today’s argument. In her opinion, they were fine and didn’t need improvements yet. Others argued that the town should petition the state for funds to repair them, as the added traffic from the detour had caused substantial wear. Another segment argued that since the increased traffic brought increased income, the town should increase business taxes to augment the infrastructure fund.
—Which is when the debate rose to a hotter level.
She didn’t care for politics, they didn’t interest her at all, but she had an obligation to the businesses who were chamber members to look out for their best interests. Reluctantly, she’d had to enter the conversation to pose that higher taxes would be a
n undue burden on the town’s establishments.
When someone made a motion to table the debate until the next meeting and Gabe Delong seconded it, Jessa almost pumped a fist in the air with glee. When Maxine Tatrem, the city council president, rang the gavel and ended the meeting, Jessa shoved her notes into a folder and rushed out of the building.
Oxygen pumped into her blood, and the fresh, brisk air eased the tension in her head. She took her time walking the five hundred feet from city hall to the chamber office. Good, no one is outside waiting for me. Her head needed more time to clear before she entered into more human interaction. She pulled out her phone to check the time—close enough to her lunch break.
She’d check her messages then go to lunch. Raising her key to the lock, she noticed the lights on inside. The door opened without her unlocking it. It took her several seconds to remember that Rachel, her secretary, came in today. Her normal days were Tuesday and Thursdays, but she’d missed yesterday because her daughter had been home sick.
“Hi, Rach,” she called out from the front.
Rachel lifted her gaze from the computer. “How was the meeting?”
“Don’t ask.” She plopped into a wooden chair near the desk. “I really thought my head would explode.”
“I’m guessing you all didn’t come to a resolution?”
“Nope.” She reached over the L-shaped desk she shared with Rachel and grabbed the thermos from her side, swallowed a large gulp. The water she’d poured that morning was still ice cold, and she took another drink. She hadn’t realized how dry her mouth was. “In my opinion, the state should pay for any damage to the road, but I don’t know the legalities and logistics of that. It’s above my pay grade.”
“Mine too.” Rachel tossed her a foil-wrapped candy. “Have some chocolate.”
“Gladly.” She caught the miniature peanut butter cup midair and unwrapped it. “Can I make an entire lunch out of these?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Hey, I had just broken up with Chris and needed comfort.” Her lips involuntarily curled upward—she could laugh about it now. “So what if I found that comfort in a bag of sugar. Every calorie was worth it. Every. Single. One.”
“Whatever happened to him?” Rachel took a candy for herself and popped it in her mouth.
“Don’t know. We talked a few times after he moved to Chicago, but then we lost touch.”
“Good riddance.”
“He wasn’t that bad. We simply wanted different things out of life.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Are you forgetting that he never missed the opportunity to insult small-town life?”
Jessa cringed. “Hindsight’s always twenty-twenty. I blocked it out while we were dating, and when I did notice, gave him a pass because he was charming.”
“I want it known that I never said, ‘I told you so’ despite the fact I had warned you.” She ducked her head and laughed when Jessa threw a crumpled ball of foil at her.
“You just did.” Leaning back in the chair, Jessa released a round of laughter. Only true friends could tease each other about their failures without getting offended, and Rachel was one such. They’d known each other since grade school, although their friendship didn’t bloom until they played together on the volleyball team during high school. “What are you doing for lunch?”
“Brown-bagging it today.”
“Want to save it for tomorrow and join me at the diner?”
Rachel shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m trying to save money. My car needs new tires in the next month, and my bank account is in denial.”
“I can talk to the board about adding a few extra hours.”
“Neal said he’ll ask his boss for some.”
“You married a good one.” Jessa left the chair and hooked her purse over her shoulder. “Your relationship with him sets the bar high for the rest of us.”
A snicker escaped from Rachel. “Don’t tell him that. His head is big enough already.”
“Not as big as his heart for you.” Jessa smiled at her good friend and co-worker. Rachel and Neal’s relationship wasn’t perfect—nobody’s was—but they were a prime example of a couple who had married right out of high school and defied the odds. Ten years and three kids later, they were as much in love as the day they married, if not more. “Want me to bring you back anything? My treat.”
“I’m good. I have my dessert.” Rachel plucked another chocolate from the bag to emphasize her point.
“I’ll be back in a bit. Call my cell if anything comes up.” Her stomach growled, reminding her she’d skipped breakfast. She should have grabbed a cinnamon roll at the meeting.
She left her office and walked in the direction of Tippy’s Diner. Her mouth watered for a chicken salad croissant. She could taste the sweet pickles that set the sandwich above others.
“Watch out.” A disembodied voice called out to her, and a hand clutched her arm and pulled her aside in the nick of time to avoid a collision with a bicyclist. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She turned to see the owner of the vaguely familiar voice. Her pulse skipped a beat. “Landon?”
A short smile curved his mouth. “You remember me.”
“I have a knack for it.” She glanced at the man on the bike, several hundred feet away already. “Thanks for the save. I was lost in thought and didn’t see him.”
“He should have paid better attention. I doubt he saw you either.” A scowl came over his face. “There’s no personal responsibility left in this world.”
His gruffness surprised her. He’d seemed so easy-going the first time she’d met him. “Accidents happen.”
“At least you’re okay.” His expression softened. “Off work today?”
“Lunch break.”
“Mind if I join you?” He flicked his gaze in the direction of the chamber’s office. “I was on my way to the bed and breakfast, and if things didn’t work out, back to your office for more suggestions.”
Just say no. You don’t know him from Adam. But she couldn’t ignore the sudden giddiness sprouting in her chest. “Sure. I’m on my way to the diner. There aren’t too many places to eat within walking distance of the office, but the food’s always good there.”
“Anything is better than the self-serve convenience store hotdogs I’ve been living on lately.”
“Really?”
He shrugged. “It’s quick and easy. When I’m on the road, I’m not one to sit and eat a meal.”
“Today’s the exception?”
“If it means lunch with a friendly face, then yes.” His jaw tensed then relaxed. “It’s been a rough week.”
“I’ve been told I’m a good listener if you need an ear.” She stepped forward, leading the way to the diner.
“Thanks, but I won’t bore you with my family drama.” He answered with a casualness that made her think it couldn’t be that bad.
“We all have some.” Like a brother in jail for a DUI.
“True, but I’ve recently become the black sheep of the family.”
She took long strides to keep up with him. “How so?”
“I said I wouldn’t bore you.” He patted his rear pants pocket and pursed his lips. “I left my wallet in the truck. Can I meet you at the diner?”
Without asking, she knew exactly where he parked. “I can walk with you. You’re in the vacant lot behind the library, right?”
His brows arched. “How’d you know?”
“There are only two lots right in town that can accommodate eighteen-wheelers, and the other one is on the far end. I didn’t figure you’d park there to come to the chamber of commerce.”
“I guess you would know that.”
She pointed to a path leading to a slight incline. “If we cut through here, it will shave off a few extra steps.”
When they got to his rig, Landon climbed up the galvanized steel steps and swung into the cab like it wasn’t a pickup on steroids. He exited a second later, sliding
his wallet into his pocket while he lowered himself to the ground.
“What’s it like, driving a massive vehicle?” She stared at the enormous truck, admiring the metallic black paint job.
“Not much different than any other once you get used to it.” He grinned. “Except it has a lot more power and is a pain to park in tight spots.”
“I’d fail.” She laughed at herself, then explained. “The first vehicle I bought on my own was an SUV, but after I backed into my third mailbox, I accepted that I stink at parking large vehicles and traded it in for a car.”
His forehead crinkled into creases, assuming a doubting expression. “For real?”
She scrunched her face. “Sad but true.”
“Remind me not to get in any vehicle with you behind the wheel.”
“I’m fine as long as it’s a small car.” Breaking into a gait, she gestured for him to follow.” “I blame it on a lack of depth perception.”
“Sure.” He drew the word out, once again expressing disbelief, but his eyes sparkled. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“Did you decide where to take your grandmother?” After she’d asked the question, she wished she hadn’t. Was it weird to remember every detail of a conversation held two months ago with someone she’d never met?
Then again, he’d remembered her and invited himself to lunch, so if anything, their weirdness quotient was even.
“Yes, but I’m not sure it will work out.”
“Why not?”
“I presented her with the surprise weekend getaway last week, but she won’t accept it without conditions.” They reached the diner, and he held the door open for her.
“That’s…” She trailed off before she insulted his family. He obviously loved his grandmother, and it wasn’t her place to judge the situation.
“Rude,” he finished for her. “It goes against everything Gran ever taught me, but in her defense, she has good intentions.” He paused. “The problem is, I don’t happen to agree with her.”
“What has to happen for her to come?”