Bonus Epilogue
BONUS EPILOGUE
LAYTON
“ W e make a pretty good team, don’t we?” Grams weaves her arm through mine and pats my forearm.
“Oh no you don’t, you wiley old woman!”
Grams pretends to be offended. “Wiley?”
“Don’t play innocent with me, Grams. I always know when you’re up to something.”
“Oh, I seriously doubt that,” she says, brushing off my statement.
I slide my index finger gently over a specific line just to the edge of Gram’s eye. “Right here,” I tap my finger to the spot. “This line only appears when you’re up to something.”
“Oh stuff it, Layton,” Grams bats my finger away from her eye. “Those are called laugh lines you big oaf. They show up when I laugh–which is something I do a lot when I’m around you because you’re so full of yourself.”
“Muah?” I feign innocence.
“Yes, you.”
“You also have a habit of dragging your tongue over your top teeth. It’s a sure tell you’re up to something. Kind of like you’re doing right now.” I nod to Grams’ mouth and she instantly stills her movement.
She lifts an eyebrow. “You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?”
I shrug my shoulder. “If the shoe fits.”
“I only came over here to congratulate you on a top-notch performance. Just look at the two of them,” Grams tilts her head to where Liam and Andie are sitting with their friends. Andie’s smile is radiant. Liam is laughing at something Alex said, while his fingers draw circles along Andie’s bare upper back.
“It took some finesse on my part, but Andie played into my hands beautifully.”
“What finesse on your part?” I ask.
“Convincing Andie to ask Liam to ask you for a favor.”
I narrow my eyes at Grams. “Ah,” I nod. “The benefit. Right.”
“I was banking on Liam refusing to ask you to be Andie’s date. Thankfully, he did not disappoint me. And now look at them.” Grams gestures to Liam and Andie, still sitting with their friends.
“Sheesh! I’m surprised my idiot brother managed to convince Andie to marry him. I’ve never seen someone screw up a proposal the way he did.”
“You think you could have done any better?”
I shake my head. “We’ll never know, will we?”
Grams winks at me. “Oh, I know.”
“I’m not biting.”
“Shall we put a little wager on it?”
I shake my head and chuckle. “I would never take advantage of a sweet little old lady.”
“I may be old, but we both know I’m not sweet.”
I nod my head from side to side. “You did give your engagement ring to Liam. I think that qualifies as sweet.”
Grams pats my arm. “And I have a ring for your fiancé, as well. ”
“Might as well save it for Lloyd.”
“Oh, I have one for him, too. And Lenny.”
“How many engagement rings does one woman need?”
Grams grins. “That’s a secret I’ll never divulge.”
I narrow my gaze at her. “You’re frightening, you know?”
“Yes, dear.”
“Who you calling frightening?” Liam approaches and wraps his arms around Grams’ waist. He bends down to kiss her on the cheek.
“How’s my favorite grandson?” Grams taps Liam on his cheek.
“Hey!” I raise my hands, palms up. “I’m standing right here.”
“Give it up, Layton. Everyone knows I’m Grams’ favorite.”
“Oh, good. While I’ve got you both here, Layton, I need you to do something for me.” Grams is suddenly all business, and I can’t say for sure, but I think I should be scared.
“Okay,” I say warily.
“I want you to oversee our fiftieth-anniversary celebration.”
I take a step back. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Why in the world would I want to do that?”
Grams looks affronted. “I need a family member to take the lead on it. Your father will be too busy preparing to step down as CEO, and Liam is a newlywed. Plus, he’ll be training to take over once your father steps down. Your father plans to announce his retirement on the evening of the celebration. So, you see, dear, it has to fall on you.”
“No,” I say with a definitive shake of my head.
“Layton, I’m counting on you to do this for me.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Grams, I’m already stretched beyond capacity. Besides, I don’t know the first thing about planning a party.”
Grams gives me a sympathetic nod. “Of course, you don’t. That’s why I plan to hire an event planner. ”
I lift my shoulders. “Good. Then you won’t need me to–”
“You have to oversee things, Layton. The planner will do the work, but you’ll need to monitor things carefully to ensure our family legacy is adequately reflected in the plans.”
Liam looks between Grams and me, a confused expression on his face. “This sounds great and all, but what do you need me for?”
Grams nods. “I’m getting to that.”
“Okay, but could you hurry?” Liam asks. “Andie and I want to cut the cake.”
“Face it, Liam,” Grams says dismissively. “Andie and you don’t care anything about that cake. You just want the afternoon to hurry and be over so you can start your honeymoon.”
I didn’t think it was possible to embarrass Liam, but his ears have turned a bright shade of red.
“Yes, well, Andie sent me over here to get you both,” Liam says.
“Liam, dear,” Grams said. “What’s the name of that event planner that did Max and Maizee’s wedding?”
Liam opens his mouth to speak, then closes it. His gaze shifts slowly between Grams and me. “Why?”
“I need to hire an event planner for Layton. Wasn’t the woman who planned Max’s wedding the same one who showed up at the barbecue we hosted just before the wedding?”
Liam cocks an eyebrow. “Yes.”
“Good. Be a dear and get me her contact information, will you? I’d like to hire her to plan our golden anniversary event.”
Liam’s gaze flits between Grams and me, as he continues to scrutinize our expressions. I can see the wheels turning in his mind, and then all of a sudden, his face splits into a wide, mischievous grin. “Grams, you are a genius.”
I fold my arms across my chest and eye my brother with suspicion. My mind tracks back to the barbecue and the woman whose unexpected presence stunned everyone into silence. Hmmm. Come to think of it, maybe overseeing the anniversary celebration won’t be so horrible after all.
“What was her name again?” Grams asks, looking far too innocent to actually be innocent.
Liam chuckles. “Vanessa.”
“Vanessa,” that’s right. “Lovely woman, and obviously dedicated to her profession.” Grams smiles, and that one little crease above her laugh lines makes another appearance. And then, yep, there she goes dragging her tongue across her upper teeth. Oh, I’ve got your number, Granny! I pause my musings, suddenly realizing that maybe it’s Grams who’s got mine.
Liam laughs and claps me on the shoulder. “I wish you luck, brother.” He turns to Grams and offers her his arm. “Grams, it’s time to cut the cake. Shall we?”
I stand there, staring after my grandmother and my brother as they stroll over to the table where the cake is. Suspicion begins to inch its way into my bloodstream and I raise an impressed brow.
“Well played, Grams,” I whisper. “But I’m on to your little game. If it’s a wager you want, well, buckle up woman, because you’ve got it!”