36. Jillian
THIRTY-SIX
Jillian
When we return to the house, Grace is sitting on a rocking chair on the porch with a book on her lap. Daisy is perched on the railing, watching us and flapping her wings with excitement.
Grace sets her book on the table. “How was your walk?”
I can’t stop grinning. “It was wonderful. Thank you. I’m glad I do so much walking in the city. Or my legs would be like noodles.”
Grace pats the seat next to her and calls to Jamie. “Run inside and wash your hands, then come sit next to me. I have fresh-baked lemon lavender cookies and strawberry lemonade.”
Jamie’s eyes go wide at the mention of cookies, ever the sweets lover, and he runs inside. The three of us laugh.
Elliott nudges me. “You want to tell her?” His voice is low, but Grace hears him anyway.
“Tell me what?”
I put a hand to my chest. My smile grows bigger. “Jamie made a sound,” I whisper. “Not a word, but he made a sound of delight, a squeal when Nero licked his face.”
Grace’s eyes light up, and for a moment, she looks as though she’s holding her breath. Then her face softens, a radiant smile spreading on her beautiful face. Both of her hands fly to her chest, pressing lightly as if steadying the surge of emotion. “Oh my,” she whispers, her voice trembling slightly. “That’s wonderful. Did he realize he did it?” The joy in her smile touches my heart. Grace cares. It’s clear in her expression that she cares about my son. It makes me miss the grandparents I lost years ago.
“I don’t think so. Or if he did, it wasn’t a big deal for him. But for me? Gosh, this is the first time in two years. It’s huge.”
The sound of steps on hardwood floors precedes Jamie.
“Here he is.” Elliott ruffles Jamie’s hair. “Hands clean?”
Jamie holds his hands up for Elliott’s inspection.
“Looks good to me. Go on, but save some cookies for us, too.”
Jamie grabs two cookies and hops on an empty chair next to Grace, points at us and mimics washing his hands in a clear indication for us to do the same.
“Okay, boss man,” Elliott says, “we’ll go wash our hands, too.”
Jamie grins with a mouth full of cookies.
I hold back a laugh. “Manners, Jamie. Slow down.”
Grace fills up a glass with lemonade for Jamie. Strawberry slices floating on top. “Slow down, honey. There’s plenty more. Take a drink.”
We walk inside and wash our hands side by side in the kitchen sink. “Thank you again for inviting us. ”
Elliott smiles. “You said that already. No need to thank me. I wanted you both here.”
“I’m going to be saying it again and again.”
We go back outside and Elliott moves two chairs across from Grace and Jamie.
Grace holds a plate with the cookies out for us. I grab one and take a bite. “Oh my God. These are amazing. Now I know where your granddaughter gets it from.”
“Oh, you’ve met Sabrina?”
“Yes. She was kind enough to teach me and Jamie how to make cupcakes.”
“Sabrina always loved doing that. Anyone she could rope into the kitchen for baking.”
“I’m afraid I’m nowhere near as good as her. My baking is pretty bad, right, Jamie?”
Jamie shoves another cookie into his mouth and nods.
Elliott chuckles. “Hey, little man, that’s not nice.”
I laugh. “But it’s true. I can cook. Baking was never a strong skill.”
Grace turns to Elliott. “And what’s next on the agenda?”
“Horses.”
Jamie perks up on the edge of his seat.
“Horses?” I ask.
Elliott winks at Jamie. “I thought Jamie might like to meet the horses and go for a ride.”
Jamie stands up and nods, setting down the cookie he was about to eat.
Elliott puts a hand up. “Not yet. In a little while. Let’s finish our snacks and drinks and then we can go.”
Grace taps Jamie’s knee. “You know, Elliott has been riding horses since he was about your age. He even tried to ride a cow once. I think he was about six.”
I nearly choke on my lemonade. “No way.”
“Oh, here we go. Thanks, Grandma. Is it time for embarrassing stories now?”
Gracie takes a sip of her lemonade, but it doesn’t hide her smile. “It’s always time to embarrass my grandchildren with childhood stories.” She looks at me. “But I’ll let Elliott tell you his version of it. Then we can compare it to my version.”
I grin. “Sounds like an excellent plan.”
Elliott shakes his head. “Devious, Grandma. You are devious. Is that what I get for coming here to visit you? And you say you love me.”
“I do love you. That’s exactly why I remember so many stories. And well, you were always getting into one scrape or another. I have a lot of material to work with.”
“That’s it.” Elliott stands up and looks at me. “I’m escaping before she brings her A game. I’m going to check on the horses. Meet me at the stables in twenty?”
I smile. “Will do.”