Chapter 2 #2
When she realizes our attention is on her, she shyly turns and pins it up. Grandma Nancy blinks slowly but doesn’t turn away.
Papa pauses.
“Well, well,” he murmurs. “Windy Harbor has some surprises. Donna, is that you?”
She turns and swallows, nodding slowly.
“Hello, Hector,” she says.
He moves forward and clasps her hand in his. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
He smiles at Grandma Donna, who blushes.
“Neither have you.” Her eyes lower to the floor and then shoot back up to Papa’s.
Is this a moment? It sure feels like it. I so wish Goldie could be here to witness this.
Uncle Hal lowers his sunglasses halfway. He stares at Grandma Nancy and whistles low. “Are we in heaven?”
Okay, yes, definitely a moment.
Grandma Nancy’s back straightens, and she gives Uncle Hal a look that would make most men falter.
Not Uncle Hal.
“You look like trouble,” she says, setting her cup down with a purposeful clink.
Uncle Hal smiles proudly. “Only on Mondays. You free?”
Nancy gasps. “Absolutely not.”
I cough into my arm to avoid laughing out loud.
Papa gives a slight bow, looking very distinguished. “Forgive my brother. What he’s trying to say is that he’s happy to be in Windy Harbor.”
“I was saying a lot more than that, and she knows it.” Uncle Hal winks at Grandma Nancy. “A heavenly view,” he adds.
Grandma Nancy crosses her arms, staring defiantly at Uncle Hal, and her lips twitch when she says, “I suppose you think that line works on women you want to razzle-dazzle?”
Uncle Hal pulls off his sunglasses smoothly and folds them. “Razzle-dazzle.” He points at her. “That’s the perfect expression for what you do, my dear.”
My mouth drops. This is gold. The whole cafe is watching the exchange back and forth like we’re at Wimbledon.
“Oh, I do a lot more than that, I assure you.” Grandma Nancy points at Uncle Hal. “And don’t call me your dear. A man like you couldn’t possibly handle someone like me.”
I barely hide my gasp.
“Darlin’, I am up for the task,” Uncle Hal says, standing taller.
“Hal, don’t be scaring these beautiful ladies before we’ve even settled in town,” Papa says.
I decide to jump in before Uncle Hal gets any bolder. “Thanks for bringing the flyer over, Grandma Donna.”
She smiles sweetly at me.
“What have you got there?” Papa asks her.
Donna’s cheeks flush again. “It’s a little something I’m…” She waves her hand. “It’s nothing really.”
I reach out and touch her arm. “It’s not nothing. I can’t tell you how much I love this idea.” I look at Papa. “She’s dedicating a bench on the Whitmans’ new property for anyone who needs a friend to listen. The Friendship Bench.”
Papa’s eyes soften. “That’s really lovely.”
Donna looks flustered. “We all need someone to talk to at times…it doesn’t cost me a thing to listen.”
Papa nods. “That’s beautiful.”
“I got the idea from a news program,” she says, like that diminishes her part in this.
“Not everyone would take it to heart like you are,” he says.
“Well. Thank you.” She gives him a soft smile.
It does my sad heart some good to see genuine kindness between two people I love very much. Grandma Donna has had a difficult year, losing her husband.
Meanwhile, I hear Grandma Nancy huff and shake her head at Uncle Hal.
“You are something else,” she says, tsking.
“Something good, I hope,” he says, undeterred.
I lean closer to Papa and mutter, “I had no idea you and Uncle Hal were such flirts.”
He smiles. “Me? No. Your uncle, yes.”
“Um, you were working some of your magic too.” My eyes widen. And I think it worked, I mouth.
He chuckles and pats my back. “She has kind eyes. And a kind heart.” He leans in and whispers, “And she’s as pretty as she always was.”
I point at him. “See? You were flirting!”
He laughs, and we continue watching Uncle Hal and Grandma Nancy spar.
“I’ll be ready if you ever need to get out and razzle-dazzle me even more,” Uncle Hal says.
She raises one sculpted, perfectly penciled brow. “Keep dreaming.”
I lose it. I have to move behind the counter and make it look like I’m cleaning something because I’m cracking up.
The grandmas gather their things with quiet dignity. Grandma Donna says something about picking up knitting needles.
As they pass, Uncle Hal tips his head. “We’ll be seeing you lovely ladies soon.”
Grandma Nancy walks by and sniffs. “Only if you’re lucky.”
Oh my God. What is happening right now?
There was no concealing my snort with that zinger.
“Well, put us to work,” Uncle Hal says once they’re gone.
“Oh, I think you’ve done enough, Casanova,” I say.
He beams and bows. “Why, thank you.”
I groan. “You’re going to be a pain in my neck, aren’t you?” As much as I try to sound annoyed, it comes out fondly.
Uncle Hal stretches and bops my nose. “Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea.”
“Ignore him. I’ll keep him in line,” Papa says.
Uncle Hal gives me a deadpan look. “He’s spent a lifetime trying. Hasn’t worked yet.”
Papa lets out a long-suffering sigh. “He does keep me busy.”
I laugh, and when the timer goes off, I lift my thumb toward the kitchen. “I’ve gotta get that out, but you’re welcome to get settled at the house whenever you want. It’s open.”
Papa frowns. “You don’t keep your door locked?”
“It’s Windy Harbor,” I say. “Not necessary here.”
He blows out a breath. “It’s such a good thing I’m here.”