Gran rolled her eyes.
“Isn’t that what you and Lila wanted? To have us date and then marry us off together?” Hailey began drinking her water.
Gran sighed. “That might have crossed our minds.” She held her hand up. “But that was before I realized you carried a torch for the speech therapist.”
Hailey sputtered and coughed. “I carry a torch for him?” She set her glass down and wiped her mouth.
Gran faced Hailey squarely. “That’s not quite right. Carrying a torch for someone means unrequited love, and that’s not true. He most definitely returns the favor.”
“Is that right?” Hailey leaned against the counter and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“Absolutely. Like I said before, I know these things.” Gran gave Hailey a confident nod.
No longer interested in teasing, Hailey shifted her weight. “Remember when I said I wasn’t interested in a relationship?”
“That is what you said.” Gran walked into the living room.
Hailey followed her and said. “But you don’t believe me.”
Gran shook her head.
Hailey wanted to convince her, but Peter was making her think things she didn’t want to think and feel things she didn’t want to feel. It wasn’t that she never wanted a relationship again. She did. Eventually. But right now, she needed to focus on her grandparents. Besides, what would happen when she returned to Colorado? She absolutely did not want to return home only to nurse another empty, aching heart.
After some silence, Gran said, “I haven’t heard a word from Regina. Not that I expect to.” She fluffed a pillow on the couch and adjusted a picture frame near the table lamp.
“I bet she’ll be back.” Hailey wasn’t sure which was better—that Regina stay away or come back, which would inevitably lead to more trouble.
Gran’s eyes watered. Hailey wrapped her arms around her fragile grandmother. “Things will be okay.”
“I hope so, dear.”
When Gramps walked into the living room several minutes later, Hailey glanced at the gaudy gold clock on the wall. “Hey, Gramps, how about we work on some of your words?”
Gramps bristled at the idea.
“Please? It’ll be fun.” Hailey gave him an encouraging smile. She felt pressure to work with Gramps as much as possible because the more she worked with him, the sooner he’d regain his speech, and that was the reason she was here.
He gave her a softened look, indicating that he’d comply.
Hailey grabbed the worksheets as well as some flashcards she’d made from index cards from the list of common words they’d been working on.
They began their impromptu therapy session. Gramps struggled to make sentences, but he was saying some of the words more clearly. Hailey wanted to keep pushing him, but she could see he was becoming fatigued.
“You’ve done great today, Gramps.” She gave him a hug. “I’m so proud of you for working hard. I know it isn’t easy.”
“Th-th-thank you,” he said.
“You are so welcome.” She gathered the index cards together.
Gramps pointed at the middle of his chest, then pointed at Hailey. “L-l-love.”
“I love you too, Gramps.”
***
Hailey brushed through her long hair and then added some lip gloss. Going out with Darren would be fun. It would. She adjusted her pastel yellow shirt and added a pair of gold earrings. She decided to wait in the living room where Gramps was watching a movie.
“May I join you?” Memories of snuggling up with Gramps and watching movies filled Hailey with nostalgia and, once again, she was grateful she’d come to Florida to help her grandparents and make some new memories.
Gramps straightened in his chair and brushed at his brown plaid shirt.
Hailey sat on the couch near Gramps and said, “I have a date pretty soon.”
He gave her a knowing smile and touched his mouth.
Hailey knew exactly what he meant, but refused to acknowledge it. “Does your mouth hurt?” she asked with mock concern.
He shook his head.
“Oh, I know. You’re hungry.”
Gramps rolled his eyes and gave her an irritated look.
Hailey didn’t want to upset Gramps, so she said, “My date is with Lila’s grandson, Darren.”
Wrinkling his nose, Gramps shrugged a shoulder.
Her grandparents were both plotting against her. They meant well, but she preferred they stay out of her love life, such as it was. Or wasn’t. “What are you watching?” she said.
Gramps tried to say a few words but they didn’t make any sense. He tried again, but they were all gibberish. After another attempt, he let out an expletive.
“Harry, why are you cursing at Hailey?” Gran said sharply as she walked in, her perfume filling the room with a fragrant gardenia scent.
Gramps pushed out a breath of aggravation.
“He wasn’t swearing at me, Gran. He’s frustrated that he can’t tell me what movie this is.”
Gran glanced at the TV. “Oh, that’s Cary Grant in North by Northwest. Handsome fellow that man. I loved him in An Affair to Remember. One of my favorite movies.”
Gran sat on the couch next to Hailey and grabbed her knitting. “You’re waiting for Darren?”
“Yeah. He should be here any minute.” Hailey fumbled with the buttons on her shirt.
After fifteen minutes, Gran looked up from her knitting and said, “I wonder where he is.”
“Must be running late.” Hailey was losing interest in the date as each minute passed.
“I could call Lila to see where he is,” Gran suggested.
Hailey crossed her legs and sat back against the couch, absently fiddling with the earring in her right ear. “No. I’ll wait.” She had to admit she wasn’t in any particular hurry to spend time with Darren. Sure, he was handsome and nice, but Gran was right—no crackle and sizzle, as Gran had said, between them.
Another ten minutes passed.
“Odd that he hasn’t come.” Gran turned her knitting and started a new row. “Maybe he isn’t a punctual sort of young man.”
“Or maybe he decided he didn’t want to go out after all.” Hailey was a bit miffed now. Was he standing her up?
They finished watching the movie. If she’d been born a hundred years or so earlier she would’ve found Cary Grant attractive with his dark hair and brilliant smile.
“We can watch another one. I’ll make some popcorn in the microwave,” Gran offered. “I’m sure something came up. He didn’t strike me as a man who wouldn’t keep a date.”
“Whatever.” Hailey wasn’t that invested, but she was still bugged. She didn’t want to talk about it, and Gran seemed to be avoiding the subject Hailey was sure was on her mind: Regina.
“Look, Harry, Rear Window is on.” Gran turned to Hailey. “Your grandfather has always been sweet on that Grace Kelly.”
Gramps didn’t even try to hide his smile.
“Such a beauty. Real shame how she died in that car accident. She was a princess, you know.”
Hailey nodded. She had no idea who Gran was talking about.
After watching the movie, eating some popcorn, and downing a bowl of ice cream, Hailey said, “I better get some sleep. If I stay out here any longer, I’ll have to roll myself down the hall to my bedroom.”
“Good night,” Gran said. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for Darren not coming.”
“I guess.” Darren wasn’t the first guy to choose something, or someone, else. Kevin came to mind immediately, but Hailey shooed him right back out of her head.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Hailey awoke to her phone playing a clip from Adele’s song, Hello. Wasn’t it too early in the morning for a phone call? Especially on the weekend. She glanced at the caller ID. Oh great. “Hello?” She tried to sound chipper—like she’d been up for hours.
“Hailey?” his voice was gruff.
“Mr. Michaels.
” Hailey rubbed the sleep from her eyes and tried to get her bearings.
“Did you get my email?”
Hailey sat up in bed. “Yes,” she lied. She hadn’t even looked at her email before going to bed last night.
“Can you get me the information?” He sounded anxious.
“Yes.” Whatever it was, she could get it. She’d have to.
“And what about the Carver account? The new one I sent you. Have you filed the reports?”
“I was planning to do that today.” At least she was planning to do that right after this phone call, even though it was Sunday. When it came to business, Mr. Michaels didn’t care what day of the week it was. Or how early. Does he ever take a day off?
“I’ll look for your email.” He said it in a way that left no doubt she had to get back to him ASAP.
“Yes, sir.”
Hailey ended the call and immediately went to her phone settings to give her boss a customized ring so she’d know it was him next time. She’d been trying to keep up working on her accounts, but Mr. Michaels was quite the task master, even from across the country.
Hailey found her laptop and logged on to her email. She searched through her files to find what Mr. Michaels needed. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found it and sent him the information. Then she began filing reports for the Carver account.
“Hailey?” came Gran’s voice through the door.
“Yeah?”
“Darren is here.”
What? Was he coming to give her some excuse why he ditched her last night? “I’ll be out in a minute.”
She grabbed some shorts and a T-shirt, then ran into the bathroom to brush her teeth and put her hair in a messy bun. No time for make-up. This is as good as it gets, especially after being stood up last night.
When she walked out into the living room it was somber. Darren stood by the front door wearing a wrinkled shirt. His hair was disheveled and his normally vibrant eyes were bloodshot and sad. He looks awful.
“What’s going on?” Hailey asked, feeling concerned.
“I wanted to come by and let you know what happened.” Darren’s voice was heavy.
Obviously, something was off. “What’s wrong?”
Darren glanced at the ground. “I left here yesterday and went to my grandma’s. Apparently, she’d fallen while I was gone and hit her head. She was disoriented when I found her.”
“Poor Lila.” Gran covered her mouth.
“Is she okay?” Hailey asked.
“I took her to the hospital and she seemed fine. But then . . .” He paused and ran his fingers through his hair. “She passed away during the night.”
Gran gasped. “No, no. Not Lila. She was so vivacious. And one of my dear friends. She can’t be gone. She can’t.”
Hailey was stunned by the news. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.” Darren nodded. “It doesn’t feel real.”
“What can we do to help?” Gran asked, her voice shaky. She moved closer to Darren and rubbed his shoulder.
“My parents are on their way.” He looked at Hailey. “I didn’t want you to think I’d blown you off.”
“Don’t even worry about that,” she said, feeling guilty for her accusatory thoughts.
“I better get back,” Darren said. He shuffled over to the door and let himself out.
Hailey hugged Gran. “I’m so sorry about your friend.”
Gran took a few steps back and wiped at her face. “My friends keep dying. First, it was Edith back in March. She was younger than I am. Then JaneAnn and Brenda both passed just days apart last month. My heart can’t take it.”
Hailey caressed her grandmother’s back. It must be so hard for Gran to lose her friends and see so many around her die. As long as Gramps isn’t one of them. Hailey thrust that thought from her mind immediately. “What can I do?”
“I don’t know. I still have Lila’s book about container gardening.” Gran shook her head. “I guess she won’t need it back.” Tears slipped down Gran’s cheeks.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A few days later, Hailey accompanied Gran and Gramps to Lila’s funeral. Gran had toned down her normally bright wardrobe and wore a simple dark green dress. Gramps sported a charcoal suit with a forest-green striped tie, which complemented Gran’s dress. Hailey hadn’t packed any outfits for a funeral. She hoped she didn’t stand out too much in her blue summer dress.
The service was held in a small church a mile or so from the retirement community. Lila and her husband, Don, who’d died more than five years ago, had lived in the area for forty years, so the church was filled with her family and friends.
The strong scent of cut flowers enveloped Hailey as she sat on a pew toward the back. She hadn’t known Lila long, but it struck her how this woman was vibrant and full of life last week. Lila had been so eager to introduce Hailey to Darren, and her smile had sparkled when she spoke of her grandson. Then, without warning, she was gone. Life was so fragile. Too fragile. Hailey wanted to drink in every drop of her time with her grandparents instead of spending so much time working while she was there.
This week had almost felt like she was back at the office with all the extra requests from Mr. Michaels. He’d added another client to her workload, and she’d spent nearly all day yesterday going through expense records and populating a new spreadsheet with all the numbers. The more time she spent with her grandparents, the more she realized that numbers were constant, dependable, and black and white, but they failed to give her the same satisfaction she’d once had—the satisfaction she now felt helping Gran and Gramps. People might be various shades of gray, but maybe the beauty of life was experiencing those shades.
A group of women sang a song, and Lila’s oldest daughter offered the eulogy. Lila had lived a full and interesting life. When Hailey was a teen, she’d thought old people were kind of creepy with their wrinkled hands, strange ideas, and old-fashioned vocabulary. She loved her grandparents, but other old people freaked her out. As Hailey had grown older, she realized that these people were more than baggy skin and thinning hair. They had lives. They’d lived and done things. They’d been happy, sad, angry, hurt. They had talents and dreams.
Something Peter said popped into her head and she smiled. He was right. The older generation had wisdom and were sometimes, maybe even many times, marginalized by the younger generation. The millennials didn’t seem to have much use for the baby boomers, who’d experienced so much and learned from those life experiences.
Hailey hadn’t heard from or seen Peter since their date at Mar y Sol on Friday night. It wasn’t that she expected to hear from him necessarily, but it would’ve been kind of nice. Even though they’d had a fantastic date, each day that passed with no contact reinforced what she suspected: he’d taken her out simply because he’d been trapped into it, which was fine. Really. Gramps had an upcoming appointment and she planned to act like nothing had ever happened. It’d be easier that way.
After the service, Gran and Gramps extended their sympathy to Lila’s family.
Darren approached Hailey and said, “It was great getting to meet you.” He sunk his hands into the pockets of his navy dress pants.
“What are your plans?” she asked.
“I’m flying to Phoenix tomorrow. I’m starting my job next week.” He rolled his lips inward.
Hailey looked at Darren. “I’m so sorry about your grandma.”
“Thanks.” He tried to smile but it didn’t reach his eyes.
She touched him on the arm in a sympathetic gesture. “I’m sure she appreciated you being here.”
“I’m glad I came.” He shrugged.
Feeling a little awkward, Hailey said, “Good luck in Phoenix.”
He nodded and walked away. Besides being good-looking, Darren was a decent guy. If things had been different, maybe they would’ve dated. Or not. Regardless, it was nice to know a good guy existed out there in the wicked world of dating.
“I think we’re ready t
o go,” Gran said when Hailey approached her and Gramps.
They walked out to the parking lot behind the small, white church. The noon air was heavy with moisture and the hot temperature caused perspiration to bead along Hailey’s hairline.
“Eat,” Gramps said.
Hailey smiled. Gramps was doing fairly well communicating with his limited vocabulary. “Where should we go?” Hailey asked, dabbing at her forehead.
“Harry likes Red Lobster.” Gran smiled at Gramps and looped her arm through his. “He likes to take me on dates there. Isn’t that right?”
Gramps patted Gran’s hand, then leaned his head against hers, wearing a sincere grin.
“He’s still a catch, my Harry,” Gran said.
Hailey watched them walk, arm-in-arm, across the parking lot, the moment tugging at her heart. How much longer will they have each other? How much longer will I be able to spend time with them? She pushed these questions aside because considering the answers was too daunting.
They arrived at the restaurant and sat next to a large window, the scent of garlic and seafood wafting through the room. After they placed their orders, Gran said, “I haven’t heard at all from Regina. I’m afraid . . .”
“There’s no reason to worry. I’m sure she’s fine. Probably off exploring the world again.” Hailey didn’t care much where her aunt was, but she didn’t want Gran to worry.
“But look what happened with Lila. She was fine one day, then gone the next. What if something happens to Regina?”
“I bet she’ll show up again—”
“In a month? A year? Who knows when she’ll come home again or contact us? I worry about her.” Gran’s eyes moistened.
Hailey held her grandmother’s hand. “I know. It’s hard to have her live like she does. But I know she loves you.”
“She has a funny way of showing it.” Gran’s mouth twitched.
“Yes, she does.” Actually, she has a terrible way of showing it.
Gramps shook his head. Hailey didn’t need words to know he was disgusted with the actions of his daughter; she could see it painted all over his face. How could Regina hurt them like this?
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