Chapter 20 #2
Once we were seated, they each ordered a mimosa and began chattering right away, catching up on all the juicy gossip they’d collected since they last saw each other.
I pulled out my phone and zoned out as Fern launched into the latest scandal in her hometown just across the border in Kentucky.
Sometimes the Granny Gang met over there, and sometimes they met in Hazel’s town, alternating with Poplar Ridge.
We ordered brunch, and I resumed checking my email until the sound of Gabe’s name grabbed my attention.
I kept my gaze glued to my screen, but I sat up a little straighter, listening intently.
They were proposing possible love interests for Gabe.
My stomach tightened, and my heart sank.
He wasn’t mine. I had no claim over him, but the thought of Gabe with someone else felt like a knife through the chest.
“I think Dr. Novak’s new hygienist would be perfect for him. She has a daughter close to Aurora’s age. Maybe we can arrange a meet cute,” Fern announced conspiratorially. “Or perhaps it’s time for him to find a new dentist since he just moved back, and he needs a recommendation.”
“I heard that the Lockharts’ oldest daughter is finishing up her master’s degree and is set to become the school's new counselor when Mrs. Melvin retires this summer. She must be smart and good with kids, which would definitely work in her favor,” Hazel offered.
“Isn’t she a little young for him? I don’t think she’s even seen her twenty-fifth birthday yet,” Fern replied.
“Age is nothing but a number,” my grandma countered.
Unable to hide my interest any longer, I chanced a glance her way.
There was a steely resolve in her gaze, and she lifted her chin as she spoke with conviction.
“Look how much older Joseph was than me, and we had a long, happy marriage,” she reminded them, referring to their nearly thirteen year age gap.
My grandparents had been madly in love until his passing ten years ago.
As much as my grandmother’s antics made me want to pull my hair out some days, this version of her was far better than the heartbroken shell of a woman she was for the first two years after his passing.
Their story was what romance novels were made of, and even though she’d been a fairly young widow, she swore she wouldn’t have done anything different if she’d known how their story would end.
It was worth the thirty-five wonderful years she had with the love of her life, and it was far better than never knowing how it felt to find your soul mate.
“You make a good point,” Fern replied. “Twenty-four isn’t too much of an age gap I suppose. Gabriel is, what, thirty-six?”
“Thirty-seven,” I replied automatically, and all eyes landed on me. Shit, I hadn’t meant to engage in this conversation. I didn’t want anything to do with finding someone for Gabe to date.
“Ah, that’s right,” Gigi replied. There was a knowing glimmer in her eyes that told me I had just showed my hand.
She’d sensed something between us that day in the training ring and had probably picked up on other things since then.
My sudden interest in their conversation only confirmed her suspicions.
“Oh, what about the new hairdresser down at Clip & Curl? Alex, er Allison…” Hazel began, searching for the right name.
“Allysa,” my grandmother supplied.
“That’s the one,” Hazel said with a snap of her fingers. “She's a lovely young woman. Very attractive but a little reserved. She has the kind of soft temperament a lot of men are drawn to,” she added hopefully.
I almost snorted a laugh. Gabe didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who wanted reserved and soft.
I got the impression he preferred brazenness and sass, someone who would challenge him, not submit to his every demand.
Someone like me. I’d seen the way his eyes lit with intrigue whenever I let a little of my spunky attitude rise to the surface.
“I’m surprised Dorthea hasn’t already tried to hook them up,” Fern said with a huff, rolling her eyes. My great aunt clearly had beef with the salon owner, but nobody knew where it originated, just that Fern despised the woman.
“All these ladies sound quite lovely, but I don’t think any of them are right for Gabriel,” my grandmother declared.
When Hazel and Fern turned their attention back to each other to brainstorm ideas for finding Gabe a girlfriend, my grandmother shot me a wink.
Hope swelled in my chest, and I couldn’t fight the grateful smile that turned up the corners of my lips.
When our food arrived, all discussion of Gabe’s love life dissolved. Hazel and Fern inquired about my barrel racing competitions while we enjoyed our brunch. I indulged their curiosity but left out any mention of Gabe traveling with me. I wasn’t prepared to answer any questions about that.
Once our plates were cleared away, the ladies pulled out their current projects and began working on them.
Fern rested a blanket in her lap that boasted an image of a gorgeous buckskin horse with its mane blowing in the breeze.
My grandmother worked on a small lamb while Hazel knitted a matching hat, diaper cover, and booties in the smallest size I’d ever seen.
“They’re for the NICU babies,” Hazel explained when she noticed me watching.
“These will go to the kids at the children’s hospital,” my grandma added, motioning to the bag full of miniature stuffed animals. There were bunnies, bears, dogs, and horses.
“Could you teach me how to do this?” I asked, plucking a bunny from the bag as an idea began to take shape.
“Sure,” she replied, her eyes lighting up.
Something about how elated she was for me to take an interest in learning her hobby filled me with both joy and guilt.
Why had it taken so long for me to realize that she just wanted to share this with me?
It was a way for us to bond, and I’d always shot down her offers to join them.
“Is there something in particular you’d like to make? ”
“A chinchilla,” I answered casually, hoping she wouldn’t try to figure out why.
She stared at me for a moment before blinking away her surprise.
“Okay,” she drew out, then reached into her bag to pull out a spare set of knitting needles and a ball of yarn.
Placing them on the table, she went over the basics before showing me how to start my first cast on stitch.
I repeated the process several times before moving on to the next step, and soon I had a six-inch long knit stitch.
The process was oddly soothing. I felt my tense muscles relax more with each row I knitted.
“You know,” Gigi began, leaning in to speak quietly so only I could hear, “you can talk to me … about anything. If you ever need advice or just a listening ear.” Her genuine openness warmed my heart.
It nearly loosened my tongue, but what was there to say?
I was developing feelings for a man who’d given no indication that he was interested in pursuing a relationship with me.
Even though there was chemistry and mutual attraction—something Gabe refused to admit out loud—nothing had actually happened between us.
Still, it meant a lot to me that she was willing to listen and offer support. If anyone was going to be on my side, it was her.
“Thank you, Gigi,” I said, resting my head against hers affectionately. We stayed like that for a long moment, and I soaked up the silent comfort she offered. Then she kissed my hair and assessed my progress.
“So you want to learn how to make a chinchilla?” she asked.
I nodded excitedly, hoping it wouldn’t be too complex. It would probably take a while, and I’d most likely need some help, but I was determined to create something special for Rory.
“Let’s start with the basics. You’re going to make a scarf.” I groaned and slumped back in my chair. “You’ve got to learn to crawl before you can walk,” she advised.
An hour later, my fingers and back both ached from where I’d been slumped over my work. Everyone had made incredible progress on their respective projects.
Everyone except for me. I was maybe one tenth of the way through my very basic pink scarf when they decided to call it a day.
“You’re doing great, dear,” Fern commended, and the other two agreed. We packed up and slipped out just in time to avoid the lunch rush.
“Should we be letting them drive home?” I asked as we waved goodbye to Fern and Hazel. We’d been at the cafe for quite some time, but still, they’d been drinking.
Gigi scoffed. “I’d like to see you try to stop them.
” I gave her a flat look, and she rolled her eyes.
“They each only had one drink. They’ll be fine,” she said, waving off my concerns.
“Me, on the other hand, I’m still pleasantly buzzed,” she announced with a giggle, and I realized those other four empty glasses had been hers.
“Get in the car, you lush.” I chuckled as I opened the door for her. Once she was secured, I rounded the hood to the driver’s side.
I was reaching for the door handle when I heard a deep, masculine voice shout my name, and I turned just in time for a body to slam into me.