Chapter 20 Grady
GRADY
After a leisurely morning mostly in bed, Esme told me she had to leave to open her shop. I offered to get the kids from Gillian’s and spend the day with them.
“Is that how it’ll be now? You and me? A team?” Esme asked, wrapping herself around me.
“That’s how it’s always been. Only now we admit to each other and everyone else.”
She looked up at me, her eyes misty. “What should we tell the kids about us?”
“I think they’ve already figured it out. They did catch us kissing.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I want them to know this is a permanent situation. Is that what you want?”
“Do you even have to ask?” I grinned, playing with a lock of her hair. “But don’t worry. I plan on giving you a big moment. On one knee. Big fat diamond. The whole thing.”
“Can it be one of the manufactured ones? I would feel terrible wearing a real diamond after what we know about that business.”
“Whatever you want, you shall have.”
We left a few minutes later. I dropped her off at her place and then went to get the kids. I had a plan. One that made me feel like a kid.
Gillian met me at the door with a warm smile and a hug. “Good morning. The kids are all ready to go. We had a small kerfuffle about tooth brushes last night. Robbie didn’t like the idea of using a new one instead of the one he has at home, but we worked through it.”
“Thank you for that. I appreciate it.”
“Always. These kids—we’ve raised them as a village. Just because we’ve found wonderful partners doesn’t mean anything will change between us. We’ve been through a lot together.”
“I’m grateful she has you and the others,” I said. “Truly. I’m not sure she would have made it through without a breakdown had she not had you ladies.”
“I’d say the same about you, Mr. Nash.” She squeezed my shoulder, looking into my eyes. “You make her happy, which makes all of us happy. I knew you two would figure it out at some point, but it took you long enough.”
Madison appeared behind her, back in her Trevor costume from last night, ears slightly askew. “Grady, did you come to pick us up instead of Mommy?”
“I did. She’s at the shop.” I picked her up for a hug, then set her back down.
“Does this mean you’ll be picking us up all the time now?” Madison asked. “Because your Mommy’s boyfriend?”
“That’s right.”
She threw her arms around my legs. “I prayed for this. Really hard.”
I caught Gillian’s gaze. Her eyes shimmered with tears.
“I don’t think you were the only one praying,” Gillian said.
I placed my hand on top of Madison’s shiny hair. “How about we get those shoes I promised you today?”
Her nose wrinkled. “But Mommy already bought me a pair.”
“According to my sister, a girl can always use an extra pair of shoes,” I said. “Maybe something sparkly?”
“And pink?” Madison bounced on her toes. “Because Mary Burns in my class has sparkly pink shoes, and she’s always bragging about how expensive they are.”
“We’ll get the best shiny pink shoes we can find,” I said.
“Not shiny. Sparkling,” Madison said, solemnly. “They have to sparkle.”
“As bright as your eyes?” I asked, winking at her.
“Brighter. And pink,” Madison said, clearly worried I had forgotten that detail.
Robbie appeared at the top of the stairs, backpack over one shoulder and his periodic table tie from last night folded neatly in his hand.
He wore an interesting expression. Kind of a “cat that got the canary” kind of thing.
But reserved, as if he didn’t want to admit how good it felt to catch the annoying bird and have his way with it.
“Good morning, Grady. Has Mother gone into work?”
“Morning, bud. Yes. You’re stuck with me today.”
A slight smile curved the corners of Robbie’s mouth. “Excellent.”
“And once your Mom’s done at work, we’re all going out for pizza.”
“Hooray!” Madison shouted. “Can we have pineapple on it?”
“Pineapple doesn’t make logical sense on a pizza,” Robbie said. “That so many make that decision is baffling.”
I nodded toward the door. “Come along. We can discuss it in the car.”
“Or we could just get two different kinds of pizza,” Madison said.
Robbie wasn’t the only smart one in the family.
I thanked Gillian again and then herded the kids out to my car.
On the way into town, Madison chattered the entire drive about Grace’s haunted hallway and how everyone thought her Trevor costume was very, very funny.
“It was basically the best costume of the whole party,” Madison said.
“I disagree,” Robbie said, but he was smiling.
This was right. This was good. They needed me, and I needed them. All of which added up to one happy family.
The shoe store on Harbor Avenue had been there for decades, run by a woman named Pat who knew every kid in town by name and shoe size. Madison went straight for the display wall, eyes enormous.
“Grady. Look at these.” She held up a pair of purple sneakers with silver stars. “Can I try them on?”
“Absolutely. But what about your pink, sparkly shoes?” I asked.
Her face fell. “Yeah. I forgot about them for a second.” She was immediately distracted by a pair of rain boots with dogs on them. “Look at these, Grady. Aren’t they funny?”
“They’re hilarious,” I said.
“But I know I can only get one pair,” Madison said. “And I don’t really need the rain boots. I just think they’re cool.”
I crouched down to her level. “Today, you get to pick boots and some fancy sparkly shoes and even those purple sneakers.”
“But won’t that cost too much money?” Madison asked, eyes wide.
“Things are a little different now,” I said slowly. “There’s a little more room in the budget.”
She stared at me for a long moment. Then she glanced over at Pat, who had made herself busy by putting discarded shoes back onto the shelves, before whispering, “Can I really get three?”
I’d buy you the store if I thought your mother wouldn’t wring my neck. Out loud I said, “I think just this once.”
She threw her arms around my neck so hard she almost knocked me over. Then she released me and took off toward Pat with the intensity of a woman on a mission. Shoes seemed to do that to a girl.
I stood up and found Robbie beside me, watching his sister with an expression that made my chest ache.
“You just made her really happy,” Robbie said, his voice catching in a very non Robbie way. “But you have to guard your fortune carefully. Spending sprees are not wise.”
I guided him over to the boys section. “
“Okay, listen, kiddo. From now on, I worry about money. Not you.”
“But if we take too much of yours, you might not like us anymore.”
“Nothing could ever make that happen,” I said. “And as much as I appreciate you always looking after your mom, you’re a kid. Let me worry about her and take care of her, okay? That way you can be your genius self, solving the world’s problems through science.”
“I do really want that,” Robbie said. “I accept. Since you brought it up, there is a pair of loafers I’ve had my eye on since last time we were here.”
Loafers? I almost choked from trying not to laugh. “Show me the way.”
“They’re not Italian leather, but that’s to be expected.
” He led me over to a section displaying men’s dress shoes and pointed to a pair of fine looking black loafers.
The kind a thirty year old man would wear to his office job, paired with an expensive suit.
I used to own quite a few of them myself.
But not typical for a fourteen-year-old boy. Then again, this was Robbie.
“Okay, if those are the ones you want, I’ll get them for you.” I placed my fingers on his shoulder for a split second. “But are you sure they won’t encourage those bullies Tyler protects you from?”
His forehead wrinkled. For once I’d flummoxed him. “Why would shoes do that?”
“They’re an unusual choice for a boy your age.”
I could practically see his mind working through why. Finally, he nodded. “Right. I see. Is it okay that I don’t care?”
Heck yeah! “Yep, it sure is. Never stop being you, Robbie.”
“As a compromise in order to fit into a society that discourages elegant shoes, I’ll only wear them to my STEM school and not around town. That should keep the bullies at bay.”
“Good plan,” I said, hiding a smile behind my hand.
“Why is that amusing to you?” Robbie asked.
“Because I love you exactly how you are.”
“But why is that funny?”
“Not really funny. More heartwarming. As in, you make my heart smile.”
Robbie shook his head. “Grady, you’re a sentimental fool in love. But I’m glad you love me. I love you too.”
This time, I had to turn away to hide my misty eyes.
At five that evening, I stopped my car in front of Esme’s shop.
I was about to ask Robbie to go in to fetch her, but she looked up and waved, smiling at the sight of us.
That smile that made my chest ache and my stomach flutter all at the same time.
It was a heady experience, being loved by a sunflower.
I kept the car running while she grabbed her bag, turned off the lights and put Trevor on his leash. She locked the door, then she and Trevor made their way to us.
Robbie opened his door and Trevor climbed in, sitting politely between the kids as if he thought himself human.
“Hey, guys,” Esme said, sliding into the passenger seat. “Were you waiting long?”
“Not at all. Just got here,” I said.
“And what have you rascals been up to all day?” Esme asked, shifting her gaze toward the backseat.
“We got new shoes.” Madison thrust both feet between the front seats. She was wearing the purple sneakers with silver stars. The rain boots with dogs were in a bag at her feet, along with a pair of pink, sequined dress shoes. “Grady said it was okay that I got three pairs.”
“Three?” Esme raised her eyebrows, glancing my direction. “I just got you new shoes.”
“I know, but Grady promised them to me before you got the other pair, and he doesn’t break promises,” Madison said, sounding perfectly reasonable. “And there’s more room in the budget now.”
“Pat had a sale going on,” I said. “Great bargains.”