“Here we go.” Grady settled his grandfather into one of the wicker seats. “Nice to be outside, huh?”
Clarence nodded, but his gaze was captured by the gardener. “You! What kind of fertilizer are you putting on those plants?”
The young woman glanced over. “Just what my boss told me to.”
“Did you get that at Akers Garden Center?”
She looked down at the sprayer beside her. “Uh, I’m not sure where he bought it.”
“Gotta shop local, you know.”
“Granddad. It’s okay.” Grady put his hand on Clarence’s arm.
Clarence shook off the touch. “Not too much of that now. The daffodils are looking a little yellow.” He chuckled. “That’s funny.”
The gardener looked between them, picked up the sprayer, and moved to the farthest corner of the patio.
Joanna could scarcely blame her. She knelt beside Clarence. “Do you miss gardening?”
He blinked, and his eyes focused on hers. “Yeah. I can’t do anything anymore. Can’t even get myself dressed without help.” His gaze wandered over to the children leaning over the pond. “Doesn’t seem so long ago I was their age. Playing in the creek, catching fish for dinner.”
Joanna met Grady’s eyes, filled with compassion. “Time keeps on ticking,” she murmured. Would it tick Grady right out of her life?
“Would you like to come down to the greenhouse when we plant out the seedlings?” asked Grady. “I can spring you out of here for a few hours. The greenhouse itself might be too hard with the gravel paths, but you could sit in the shade and tell people what to do.”
Oliver pressed against her elbow. “Isn’t bossing people Aunt Jonah’s job?”
Grady reached over and ruffled the strawberry blond head, grinning at Joanna. “Does she tell you what to do?”
The little boy sighed. “Daddy says we have to ’bey her.”
“She loves you.” Grady’s eyes remained locked on Joanna’s.
Her heart skipped a beat, remembering his own declaration a few days ago.
“Yeah, but she’s bossy.”
Maisie dropped to the patio, cross-legged, and tilted her head toward Clarence. “You built those greenhouses?”
He nodded. “That was my business, when I was a young man. Me and Betsy. We raised our children in that house, playing in the greenhouse.”
“It was a good life,” Grady said quietly. “My dad has many happy memories of being a boy right there. I remember it, too, from when I was a little guy the age of the twins.”
“T’wasn’t always easy,” Clarence went on, his eyes focused on something beyond the fence. “We had no dollars to rub together in those days. Just love and plants. Good days.”
Linda valued money. Was Grady more like his parents or his grandfather? Would he care when he found out how little Joanna earned?
“You gave the business a solid start, Granddad. You and Grandma did good.”
Clarence started and his gaze found Grady. “We done the best we could. It’s all so different now. Everything is all about the money.”
“Not everything.”
“Like that girl Vanity.” Clarence turned, his eyes somehow looking through Joanna. It gave her a chill. “Are you Vanity? Stay away from my boy.” He pushed up in the chair then slumped. “Stay away.”
“No, Granddad. This isn’t Vanessa. This is Joanna, remember? Not the same woman at all.” Grady stroked the old man’s arm as he gave her a worried look.
“Does she want your money, too?” Clarence leaned over. “These aren’t even her children. Don’t you want your own?”
What? A flush rolled up Joanna’s cheeks. The boys had run back to the koi pond, but Maisie sat with tilted head, watching with a frown on her face. If only Joanna could crawl in a hole and never come out.
“That’s not how it is, Granddad. You told me before that you like Joanna. I like her, too.” His gaze flicked to Joanna’s for an instant.
Joanna surged to her feet. “I’m going to check on the boys. Come, Maisie.”
Which was the real Clarence? The man who was compassionate about the needs of others, or the one who saw a money-grubbing woman out for the family wealth? Maybe age and dementia were bringing the real Clarence to the surface after all. Maybe Grady would be the same.
Oh, Grady hadn’t been using her quite the way Pierce had, but the outcome would be the same. Family loyalty in, and Joanna out.
* * *
“Joanna. Don’t worry about what he said. Today was not one of his better days.” Grady wedged his foot in the doorway to her basement suite before she could finish shutting the door.
“Go away.”
“Please. Let me come in.” He leaned on the door until it gave.
Joanna backed up. Her hair was disheveled and her face blotchy, like she’d been crying.
His heart sank as he reached for her. “Joanna.”
She shook her head. “You don’t even know.”
It was his turn to be confused. “Don’t even know what?”
“I’m not an asset. My consulting business barely breaks even. Why wouldn’t people assume I just wanted your money?”
That hurt. “Am I so horrible that they couldn’t jump to another conclusion? Like you fell in love with me when I swept you off your feet?”
She blinked, and another tear or two made their way down her cheeks. “No,” she whispered. “But I know how people think.”
“How do they think?” Grady shut the door and leaned against it. If he thought she’d accept him closing the gap, he’d do it in a heartbeat. Somehow, she needed space. He’d give it to her, but not at any cost. He wasn’t going anywhere until they were okay again. His heart clenched. It had been a rocky week. God, we will be okay again, won’t we?
“They’re the same everywhere, out for gossip. They’ll protect the hometown boy.”
His mind scrambled to catch up. Was she talking about Arcadia Valley? Sure, there were as many busybodies here as in any town, most likely, but what was with the vehemence in her voice? “What are you talking about?” As far as he knew, she hadn’t even met those most likely to offend.
“That’s how it was in Salt Lake City.” She crossed her arms. “He used me to get back at his father and the board of directors. He lied through his teeth, over and over. Then, when he’d got what he wanted, he ditched me without a second thought. Everyone believed his story. Tall, dark, and good-looking with a smile that could charm the socks off anybody. I’d done the work. He owes me thousands of dollars, but I’ll never see it. If that means I’m after your money, they’re wrong. All I want is to make an honest living and be paid what’s owed me. All I want is respect.”
Grady felt like he’d missed the bus. “Whom are you talking about?”
“Pierce Bennet. I managed some real estate rezoning for his company. For him. I loved him, Grady. I trusted him. I gave him a deal, because I was going to spend the rest of my life with him.” She let out a sharp laugh. “You can see how that turned out. He told me he loved me, but when he had the transfer papers in hand, he took them to his father, got the promotion he wanted and didn’t even bother with a thank you. I billed him, and he laughed. Said he didn’t owe me a dime, his word against mine.”
Pain oozed out of every word. Joanna’s eyes had closed, her face tight and expressionless, and her body rocked slightly.
Grady crossed the small kitchen in three strides and gathered her against his chest. “I’m so sorry, Joanna. I didn’t know. But I am not that guy. I’d never use a woman like that. Never use you like that.”
Joanna pushed slightly against his arms. “How do I know for sure?”
He held her face between his hands. “You look in my eyes and read the truth. You hold up your chin and know you didn’t deserve what Pierce did to you. You’re so much more than that. You want to talk about wealth? Jesus gave up everything for you and lived the life of a pauper. He died for you, because you are worth everything to Him.” Grady
kissed her forehead. “Don’t let Pierce define your worth. Don’t let my mother define your worth.”
She took a long, shuddering breath. “I don’t know why you keep bothering with me.”
“Because I love you,” he said simply. “And because I want to be like Jesus. Are you familiar with Psalm fifty-four?” If only he’d founded this relationship on his love for God, they might not be at this awkward place. “Let me find it. I don’t want to get it wrong.” He thumbed open the Bible app on his phone. “Here is verse ten in The Voice. ‘Even if the mountains heave up from their anchors, and the hills quiver and shake. I will not desert you. You can rely on my enduring love; my covenant of peace will stand forever.’ So says the Eternal one, whose love won’t give up on you.”
Grady stuck his phone back in his pocket and caught Joanna’s hands. “That’s the way I want to love you. With unfailing love.”
“Like the song we sang in church last week. What was it called? It had those words in it, about God’s love not giving up.”
The title sprang to Grady’s mind. “One Thing Remains. Jesus Culture sings it. So powerful. So true.”
She nodded slowly. “I think that’s the one.”
“Here, let me find it.” Grady fished his cell back out and found the video on YouTube. He slid both arms around Joanna and held his phone in front of them, reveling as she leaned against him to watch and listen. He let it run through twice before turning off the app.
“Thank you, Grady,” she said softly, turning toward him. “Pray for me?”
“You know I will. Pray for me, too?”
Her hand touched his face with a feather light caress. “You? Why?”
“Because I’m not perfect, either. Not by a long shot, but I want to focus on Jesus more than anything.” He slid his hands down her back. “Even more than you.”
Joanna’s lips brushed over his. “Thank you.”
Chapter 12
Joanna tugged on her new work gloves and surveyed the building site. Ten volunteers stood in a semi-circle around Grady while he gave instructions on how to build the boxes for the garden beds.
Grady. In the past two weeks, he’d romanced her like never before. Flowers covered every spare surface in her basement suite. He’d texted scripture verses and links to worship videos. He’d phoned and offered words of love. He’d borrowed Kenia’s bike for her and they’d gone on long rides through the surrounding farmland. They’d visited the farmers’ market together, checked out the new bakery in town, and gone on picnics. He’d taken her to L’Aubergine so many times they’d worked their way through the entire dessert menu.
Her heart sang to be loved by Grady Akers. If only... she sighed. If only it could last.
The volunteers split up into groups of two. Joanna’s eyes widened as Cameron and Evelyn grabbed the same board at either end. Oooh. Now that would be a romance worth nurturing. Two single parents. A blended family. A big sister for the twins.
Joanna hurried over. “What are we supposed to be doing?”
Cameron rolled his eyes. “You got so caught up listening to his voice you missed the words?”
“Well, um. Maybe.” A flush crept up her cheeks.
Her brother tapped the back of her gloved hand. “Did you know you could break a nail even through those things?”
Evelyn snickered.
“No, really?” Joanna let her eyes go wide then smacked his arm. “There are more important things than fingernails.”
“Let me make an announcement in the Valley Times. That must be worthy of page one at least.”
“I’m not that bad.”
Cameron’s eyebrows rose. “You are, too. Hey, where are the boys? I thought they were with you.”
They had been. Joanna pivoted, her gaze raking the building site where several volunteers wielding drills had already begun to assemble beds. “They must be in the greenhouse. I’ll be right back.”
Clarence’s chair had been placed in the shade beside the greenhouse where he could oversee the construction area. It was empty, and his walker was gone.
Joanna broke into a run. She dashed through the retail area and glanced both ways, alert for any sound.
“That’s where I hurt my foot,” came Oliver’s voice.
Clarence’s deeper voice answered, too low to catch.
Joanna ran into the second greenhouse and stopped short at the sight of the old man, leaning heavily on his walker with both small boys on top of the potting table beside him. “Oliver! Evan! Get down from there this minute. You know better...” Her voice trailed off. Did they really?
Clarence turned toward her voice and wobbled.
For one frozen instant, she watched as he lost his footing and fell, head clipping against the potting table before he disappeared from view.
No! Joanna darted around the end of the table as the twins jumped down beside the old man. It was her fault. She shouldn’t have taken her eyes off them for a minute. Shouldn’t have startled someone she knew was frail.
“Go get Grady,” she shouted as she crouched beside the white head. “Oh, Clarence, be okay.” A gash on the side of his head oozed blood. There were no obvious broken bones. She glanced around. The boys were gone. “Clarence.” She smoothed his hair. How uncomfortable that gravel looked under his cheek. She peeled off her top, thankful she’d layered over a camisole, folded it, and tucked it under his head.
No reply.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m so sorry. Please be okay.” It occurred to her that pleading with God would do more good than begging Clarence. “Dear God, please let Clarence wake up and be all right. I can’t bear it if something happens to him.”
Grady would hate her. His parents would be worse. The whole town would know she’d killed one of their patriarchs. This was worse than anything that had happened in Salt Lake City. “Oh, Lord, please.”
Strong hands lifted her aside while someone knelt beside Clarence. She burrowed her face against a flannel sleeve. Wait. Grady hadn’t been wearing flannel. She looked up through tear-filled eyes to find her brother.
“What happened, Jo?” he asked quietly.
“I-I surprised him, and he tried to turn too quickly, and he couldn’t keep his feet under himself. I was too far away to catch him when he fell.”
Kneeling beside Clarence, Grady whipped out his cell phone and punched in 9-1-1 then gave directions to ambulance dispatch. “There are a couple of blankets in the van. Can someone get them?”
“Me. I’ll go.” Maisie dashed off in a flurry of gravel.
Finally, Grady focused on Joanna. He rose and held out his arms.
She shook her head and clung to Cameron. Grady couldn’t want her. Not after this. But her traitorous brother pushed her away. Pushed her toward Grady, whose familiar warmth caused tears to flow like Shoshone Falls in spring.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. He’ll be okay. His pulse is strong.”
“Everyone out,” announced Evelyn. “We can’t be any help in here, so let’s get back to work.” Footsteps crunched on the gravel, and the low murmur of voices dissipated.
Joanna clung to Grady. “I didn’t mean to—”
“You didn’t do anything, Joanna. I told him to stay put in that chair. He’s a grown man, and he made a decision. You can’t blame yourself for that.”
Sure, she could. She cried harder, soaking his T-shirt.
He only held her closer as Maisie ran back in carrying two blankets.
“Thanks, Maisie. I’ve got it,” came Cameron’s voice. He took the blankets and tucked them around the old man. “I’ll watch for the ambulance and send them in here. Come on, kids. Out you go.”
Grady held her tightly while they waited, both watching his grandfather’s pale face. Distant sirens grew louder as the ambulance made its way through the streets. A few minutes later, two paramedics lifted Clarence to a stretcher and whisked him out.
They followed behind, into the bright sunshine, only to find Grady’s mom wringing her
hands while his dad spoke with the driver. The back door swung shut and the ambulance veered onto the street, sirens blasting again.
Joanna’s gaze met Linda’s. “I’m so sorry,” she blurted, bursting back into tears.
* * *
Grady paced the waiting room at Arcadia Valley Community Hospital. Joanna huddled in a chair close to the door, while his parents sat silently nearby, hands clasped together. The doors slid open, and Kenia burst in. “How’s Granddad? I came as soon as I heard.”
Dad looked up. “We’re waiting for word.”
Kenia dropped into a seat beside Joanna. “I hear you were a hero. I’m glad you were there when Granddad fell.”
“Me? A hero?” Joanna shook her tear-stained face. “It was all my fault.”
“Granddad is a typical Akers.” Kenia placed her hand on Joanna’s arm. “We always think normal rules don’t apply to us. We can do anything.”
Huh. Was that really what his family was like? Grady didn’t even want to think about it.
“Even as old as Granddad is. His mind isn’t so far gone that he didn’t know what he was doing heading into the greenhouse. You can’t blame yourself.”
“But I called out, and he tried to turn, and his feet got tangled up.”
“And you were right there, getting help, taking off your own shirt to cushion his face.”
Joanna looked down at her blue camisole, smeared with a little blood and dirt. “He looked uncomfortable.”
Kenia gave her a hug. “I’m glad you were there.”
The doors at the other end opened, and a smiling doctor came out. “Akers family? I’m Dr. Sloan. Clarence will be fine. He’s conscious, and he didn’t break any bones. We’re wrapping his head, and then you can take him home. I’ll write a prescription for the headache he’s sure to have later. The nurse will give the staff at Retro Village a call and let them know what to watch for, but I’m not anticipating any problems. He’s lucky someone was right there when he fell and got help immediately.”
Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley (Arcadia Valley Romance Book 0) Page 38