26. Monty
CHAPTER 26
Monty
I might have still had the key, but it felt more appropriate to knock on the apartment door instead of letting myself in.
“Come in!” Tasha called.
I opened the door. Her back was to me as she packed a grocery tote on the far kitchen counter.
When she turned, I had to blink twice. It took me a minute to process what I was seeing. Tasha’s sandy hair fell in sculpted waves over a long white cable-knit sweater dress. The dress covered every inch of her, but it was snug. I wanted to toss her my coat and tell her to cover up. And her eyes … She hadn’t worn eyeliner or done her lashes like that since she quit cheer.
“Stop staring. You’re creeping me out.”
Say something. Be rude. Insult her. Banter.
I reached for the right words, words that would both dig at and compliment her, and I came up empty. She’d rendered me speechless.
This did not happen .
Ever.
Where the heck was she going with Vlad that made her decide to get all prom-glam?
“Is it too much?”
“It’s a little fancy for moving Nana,” I said. “Better stay away from the old guys. You might cause a few heart attacks.”
She groaned. “I was aiming for ‘fancier than work … less than performance’ face. I probably should have skipped the false eyelashes.”
“It’s fine,” I assured her. “You’ve got that ‘hockey Wag during the playoffs’ vibe. Classy but not over the top. Sorry I made you think otherwise.”
“Montgomery Biddington,” she drawled, her smile widening into a grin, “I think you just gave me a genuine compliment.”
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure I’m coming down with something. Maybe you should drive separately.” I fisted my hand and brought it to my mouth, faking a cough. “Wouldn’t want to get Vladdy sick before the big road trip.”
Tasha laughed and handed me the bag of food. “Let’s check to see if you’ve got a fever.” She reached up to place the back of her hand on my forehead. “Hmm … a little hot?—”
“Thank you.”
She snorted. “Hot headed. ”
“Aw, and here I was thinking you were giving me a genuine compliment.”
“Maybe another time.” She pulled her coat off the hook and slipped it on, pulling her hair free and carefully arranging it in front of her shoulders. “Thank you for typing up my recipes and pitching them to Gia. I don’t know how to thank you for that.”
“You don’t need to,” I said softly.
She smiled but didn’t reply, so I gestured to the door. Once she was out, I locked it behind us and we headed out.
Nana was signing paperwork in the recliner when we arrived in her room. She looked up from the rolling tray when we entered and pointed her pen at her nurse, Marlene. “My two favorite people are here to break me free! It’s been almost half a year, and if I wasn’t so happy to get home to my cat, I might cry!”
The nurse was doing her best to hold it together. “You’ll come visit, right, Miss Nancy?”
“Of course!” Nana waved at her like she was nuts. “Now that I don’t have to live here, I think it’s time I stop letting Clarice win at cards.” She gave an exaggerated wink, and Marlene laughed.
“Take good care of her,” Marlene implored of me. “And if you need anything, just call. The overnight nurse is scheduled to be there at seven.”
“Count on it,” Monty promised. “C’mon, Nana. Tasha made dinner.” The nurse pulled the tray away and brought Nana’s wheelchair over. I helped her stand and slowly pivot, then eased her down to the seat.
“Best grandson ever. I’m in good hands, don’t you worry, Marlene.”
“I won’t. But I’ll miss you. We all will.”
I gestured for Tasha to push Nana so I could roll her bags. I’d been taking things from the room back to the house all week, so when we arrived, Nana’s two suitcases filled with her remaining belongings were waiting just inside her door.
“Follow me,” Marlene said .
Tasha complied, and I fell in behind them. When Nana turned the corner into the main hall, a cheer erupted. The walls were lined with residents and staff, clapping and shouting well wishes.
One of Nana’s nurse assistants stepped forward and handed her a tiara. “For the queen,” she said, and curtsied.
“Queen Nancy! Here, here!” Pauli shouted. He elbowed Clarice. “When you leave, they’ll bring you a pointy hat!”
Clarice whacked him with a book. “And when you leave, we’ll throw a party!”
Nana just smiled and waved like the queen she was until we were through the front door. “I think I might miss this place. Monty, you’ll have to bring me here enough so that I remember why I’m glad to be home.”
“Anytime, Nana.”
Tasha parked the wheelchair by the passenger door and opened it. I loaded the suitcases into the truck and ran over to help Nana inside.
“I can lift you,” I offered.
“Let me see if I can do it myself first.” She turned her head to Tasha. “One of the things I had to do to get out of there was move from the chair to the commode without falling. Imagine if I fell and Monty had to help when I was bare as a baby from the waist down!”
“Didn’t need that visual, Nana!” I called.
Tasha laughed. “You call me if you ever find yourself in that situation and your nurse is MIA. I’ll leave wherever I’m at to help you.”
Nana patted her hand. “I believe that. Thank you.” She gripped the sides of her chair and pushed herself up. I watched as she eyed the running board on the truck “I got this. ”
Tasha hovered behind Nana with her arms out, ready to react in an instant like she was spotting one of her athletes. I was glad they’d stayed close over the years. I had to admit, if it hadn’t been for Nana insisting I take her to the Coffee Loft several times weekly, I probably wouldn’t have had the guts to face Tasha after she broke her leg.
Tasha made sure Nana was buckled in as I stowed the wheelchair in the back. When I pulled out of the lot, she twisted around to speak to Tasha in the back seat.
“I’d like you to move in with us.”
I glanced in the rearview mirror. To say Tasha was surprised was an understatement.
“I couldn’t?—”
“Your lease is up at the end of December, right? We have nine bedrooms. You can have a whole hallway if you want. Or the turret room. You always liked hiding out there. I’m a lonely old woman, and I like you. And your food.”
Tasha laughed. “I’m happy to cook for you. But I’m planning to move back in with my parents.”
“I have a better kitchen.”
“You definitely do. But I don’t think?—”
“Well, do think. Because it makes sense. Besides, Parfait misses you terribly, I hear.”
“He’s only been gone a few hours.”
“Montgomery. A little help here, please?”
My eyes met Tasha’s in the mirror. “We’d love to have you.”
She blew out a breath. “I’ll consider it.”
“Good,” Nana said. “Now tell me about this hot date you’ve got. Because I know you didn’t dress up for me.”
I held back a smile as Tasha’s cheeks reddened. “She’s having dinner with that hockey guy. ”
“Oooh. Vladimir Ivanov again, huh? He’s hot. Tell me everything.”
Tasha pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “He’s definitely easy on the eyes. We’re still getting to know each other.”
Nana questioned Tasha all the way home and while we got her settled. I learned more than I ever needed—or wanted—to know about that guy. I was actually relieved when he arrived to pick her up so I wouldn’t have to keep listening to them.