“Yes, particle physics. We’ve been doing neutrino oscillation studies, and we’ve also begun work trying to come up with ways to detect dark matter. In fact, I’ve applied for a grant. I hope to hear something soon.”
“Good luck on the grant. Sounds interesting.”
“Yes, it’s—” His golden-brown eyes sparkled. “Never mind. I would tell you more, but you would probably want to go jump off a bridge. I have that effect on people.”
She smiled at his self-deprecating humor. The guy was truly sweet. She’d managed to forget that fact over the years. Her stomach fluttered, and she couldn’t pull her gaze away from his. She wanted to ask him what physical principle made him so hypnotic.
She jumped up from the table. “I would love to hear more later. But it’s time to pick up the boys.” She turned to Granny Bea. “I’ll stop by to see how you’re feeling in the morning.” She waved as she hurried out.
She and Granny needed a plan. And they needed it fast. Tomorrow morning, they could put their heads together and strategize. With the two of them together, Bill wouldn’t stand a chance.
The next morning, Lindsay rushed to move herself and her nephews out the door of Gregory’s house so she could stop at Granny Bea’s on the way to the center. Normally unflappable Lindsay was totally flapped. The boys always did that to her. At least until she got to the breaking point. Then the boys seemed to sense they were on her very last nerve and would back down.
She was within an inch of that point.
She jammed her hands on her hips. “If you don’t behave, I won’t take you to the movie this weekend.”
They continued to chase each other around the coffee table, but glanced her way as if testing the waters. They were nervous.
“One. Two…”
They darted to opposite ends of the couch to find their shoes.
“Two and a half…”
“I’m weady!” Chase jumped up with his shoes on the wrong feet. “I beat Hunter. I win!”
“No you didn’t. You got ’em backwards.” Hunter smirked at his little brother. “So I win.”
“…Three. Grab your book bags and head out the door right now.” Lindsay pointed.
They weren’t bad boys. They just needed a little firmness for a change. Her poor brother still couldn’t get a handle on that fact. He was trying to make up for their mother deserting them. At four and five years old, all they knew was that they wanted someone to love them. Gregory loved them like crazy, but sometimes didn’t know how to show it. He owned his own business and worked all the time to provide for his family.
She grabbed her purse and locked the door behind them. “Okay. March. To the car. I’ll drop you at day care and your daddy will pick you up.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ll barely make it to Granny Bea’s on time.”
“I hate day care. Ith for babies,” Chase said with his chubby four-year-old cheeks causing a slight lisp.
“You are a baby. So shut up,” his brother said.
As Lindsay buckled them into their booster seats, she pointed at Hunter. “We don’t say ‘shut up’ in this family. And if you aren’t nice to each other—”
“You won’t take us to the movie,” Hunter finished for her. “We know.”
The little sweethearts folded their hands in their laps and settled.
When they arrived at the Jolly-time Day Care Center, she hurried them inside and gave them a quick kiss.
Chase grabbed tightly around her neck and wouldn’t let go. “I wuv you, Aunt Windsay.”
She hugged him back, enjoying the smell of baby shampoo and little boy. “I love you, too, baby.” He wiggled out of her clutches and ran off.
A pang of regret gave her heart a squeeze. Though she was usually content in her singlehood, there were times when she wished more than anything that she had a husband and kids of her own. But apparently, that wasn’t in God’s plan.
She was fine on her own, though. Plus, the boys needed her.
When she arrived at Granny Bea’s house, she was relieved to find her sitting on the front porch swing. Time for a quick private talk.
“Good morning, Granny Bea.”
“Mornin’, dear. Have a seat and swing a bit.”
“We need to form a plan,” she whispered as she dropped into the swing, then looked around for evidence of Bill’s presence.
“He’s in the kitchen cooking breakfast,” Granny Bea whispered back. “Why are we talking so quietly?”
“So he won’t hear us figuring out how to get him to let you stay here.”
“Aha. Well, I think I can get him to cooperate. Or else I’ll turn him over my knee.” She laughed.
Granny Bea didn’t understand how serious Bill was. “He seems determined, so we have to fight. Plan A is we show him how involved you are at the community center.”
“I think you’re right. And we also show him how well you and I do together.”
Lindsay sat up straighter, excited that this might actually work. “Yeah. We’re a team. Then maybe he won’t worry that you’re alone.”
“I’ll drag him to every activity at the center so he’ll see how important my position is.”
Lindsay nodded. “See if you can manage coming in for a while today, if you feel up to it.”
“I feel perfectly fine. And the doctor didn’t say I had to limit my activity.”
“Okay. We have a plan.” She held out her hand to Granny Bea to shake on it. With the cast, they had to shake fingers.
Bill walked outside as they did so. “What’s going on?”
“I just dropped by to check on Granny Bea.” Lindsay hopped up. “I’m heading to the center now.”
“How about some biscuits and bacon first?”
Mmm. Biscuits were her favorite, and she hadn’t had time to eat while feeding Hunter and Chase. “Thanks, but I don’t have time.”
“They’re world-famous biscuits. Well, Boston-famous anyway.”
Lindsay raised an eyebrow.
“Campus-famous? I’m serious, though. They’re the best, even if I do say so myself.”
“Maybe another time.” She waved as she walked toward her car, her stomach growling.
Bill probably had the mistaken notion that Granny Bea sat around her house all the time waiting for his visits, that she had no life of her own beyond him and Drake. He pictured her wasting away on her own—lonely, decrepit. Maybe if he saw evidence of Granny’s vitality, he would get beyond his limited imaginings.
Maybe if Mr. Kennedy pursued Granny Bea more than ever, Bill would realize she had a life of her own. Besides, Mr. Kennedy was only seventy-four years old. A youngster who could take care of her if she ever needed help.
Lindsay practically rubbed her hands together in delight. She would speak to Granny Bea’s suitor as soon as he arrived to volunteer that day. And he would be there. He hadn’t missed a day since Granny Bea began working.
“Bill, honey, I need a ride to work today.”
His grandmother hadn’t been home from the hospital for a full twenty-four hours. “You should be recovering, Granny.”
“My doctor