She found the right section, and he stood in the aisle as she flipped through her different choices. She peered up at him once. “I’m sorry that I almost attacked you with a toaster this morning.”
“I think I would have been able to defend myself.”
She looked him over slowly, and for a moment he hoped that she approved. “I’m sure you would have.” She returned her gaze to the panty hose and pulled one out a package, turning it over to scan the back. “Got it.” She pulled out a second to go with the first, then brushed past him toward the cash registers.
Again, he followed her, noting how petite and fit she was. He could probably lift her without a struggle. Not that he had plans to do so, but still he wondered. What would she feel like in his arms?
The cashier rang up Kelly’s purchase as she pawed through her purse. When the cashier told her the total, Kelly sighed. “Never mind. I left my wallet on my dresser back at Grammy’s.”
Sam pulled out the wallet from his back pocket. “I got this.”
“I can’t ask you to do that. You already paid for dinner.”
He handed the cashier a twenty-dollar bill. “It’s no big deal. You can pay me back at the house.”
“That’s not the point. I don’t need you to save me.”
He put the change in his wallet then handed the plastic bag with the panty hose inside to Kelly. “Just say thank you, and we can go.”
She thrust the bag back at him. “I pay my own way.”
“Don’t make a big deal out of this. You’ll pay me back.” Didn’t she have anyone in her life down in Nashville who looked out for her? By her reaction, he doubted it. And that was a shame because Kelly looked like a woman he wanted to help and protect. The fact that he wanted to volunteer for the position made him pause. Something to think about later. To lighten the mood, he leaned down and nudged her shoulder with his. “Besides, I know where you live, remember.”
She snatched the bag from his hand, but stood still, staring at him. He considered that he might have to pick her up after all and carry her out to the truck if she didn’t start moving soon. She swallowed several times, and then gave a nod. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She turned on her heel and started walking quickly to the front of the store. He had to lengthen his stride to keep up with her.
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. NO matter which direction Kelly faced at the funeral home visitation the following evening, there were more people. Long-time customers. Friends. Grammy’s fellow business owners. Kelly’s cheeks felt as if they were going to crack if she had to keep the smile pasted on one more minute and thank another person for coming.
What she wanted was to be alone. To close all the doors and just sit in her own grief, not deal with everyone else’s. She glanced over at Megs who stood next to her in a white silk blouse and black woolen skirt. She seemed so composed. Looked so serene. How did she do it? She glanced at Megs’s black ballerina flats. Must be the shoes.
She wiggled her toes in the heels she was wearing and turned to the next woman in the receiving line, Aunt Lillian’s daughter Beth. Short like all of the women in Grammy’s family had been, a black wool dress swallowed her, and the matching black hat obscured her face. “You girls sure have grown up.”
Kelly wasn’t sure how to answer that. Thanks? Yes, it’s called time passing? Instead, she gave the woman a dry kiss on her papery thin cheek. “Good to see you, Beth. It’s been a long time.”
She sniffed and looked her over from head to toe then eyed Megs. “You’re all that’s left of my aunt. I expect you to stay in touch.”
Megs leaned down and gave the woman a quick hug and pat on the shoulder. “Yes, ma’am. Is your sister Amy here?”
“She’ll arrive in time for the funeral tomorrow.” Beth glanced around the funeral home. “I’m glad to see everyone paying tribute to Aunt Addy. You both did a fine job planning this.”
And with that she moved on with a regal air of dismissal. Kelly whispered in Megs’s ear, “I feel like curtsying and kissing her hand when we’re around her.”
Megs squelched a smile by coughing into her fist. “Be nice. She’s the only family we have left now.”
“You’re all the family I need.” Kelly reached over and squeezed her hand. “No matter what, I’m going to be here for you.”
“Even if you’re in Nashville?”
Kelly didn’t want to think about that just yet. It was nice being home for now. To get to know her sister better and make some decisions about her future.
But she didn’t say any of that.
Instead, she tried a smile yet found it difficult to keep it in place. “Especially then.”
Folks continued to join the receiving line, so Kelly shook hands with the next person who stepped forward. The young woman looked as if life had chewed her up a bit, but she was still standing. “Your grandmother was an amazing woman. She always made sure to drop off extra bread to my house. There were nights when that’s all we had to eat. God bless her.”
The woman moved toward Megs, and they embraced. Her sister gave the woman a smile. “It will be all right, Shelley. You know I can’t stop baking at one or two loaves.”
Kelly turned to the next person, a man who held a fedora in his hands. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Shame about Addy. She was one fine woman.”
“Thank you.”
Megs took one of the man’s hands in her own. “She thought the world of you, too, Walt.”
“The bakery is business as usual?” he asked.
Megs nodded. “I’ll make sure to deliver your order myself. You don’t need to worry.”
When Walt left, Kelly leaned closer to Megs. “These people are worried they won’t get their bread and cookies?”
“It’s more than that. You wouldn’t understand. They’re checking to make sure I’m going to honor Grammy’s promises.” Megs greeted the next visitor and hugged the tiny woman. “Eva, you’re looking splendid.”
“Cancer can’t beat me. And I’m gonna be a grandma again. Can you believe it’s almost time for Suzy to have that baby?” The woman wore a huge grin that even death couldn’t dim. She turned to Kelly and said, “Addy always swore the best thing she ever did was raise you two girls.”
Kelly nodded and bit her lip to keep from crying again. The fact that Grammy had taken in two teenagers after their father died and their mother ran off had changed her life forever. Again, the loss of her grandmother shook the foundation of Kelly’s world. She’d told her reflection over and over that morning that she could get through the visitation without crying, but it seemed as if she was growing closer to breaking that promise. “We couldn’t have asked for a better parent.”
“They don’t make them better than Adelaide Sweet.” The woman reached up and kissed Kelly on both cheeks then did the same to Megs before moving across the room toward the casket.
Kelly addressed her sister. “And that was?”
“Eva Stone. If you’re in town for much longer, you’ll get to know her. She works with as many charities as Grammy used to. And we’re making the cake for her daughter-in-law’s baby shower this Sunday.” Megs groaned softly and massaged the back of her neck. “How many more people do you