“Take your time,” she said, knowing Gramps was tired from being out all day. She was, too, but rushing him wouldn’t benefit either of them. Besides, the food here was better than what he got at home. Unfortunately.
He sipped his tea and took another bite of pie, and a waitress came over to see if Laura wanted anything.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
A hot bath, a glass of wine, and an hour of quiet, Laura thought, but she merely smiled. “A glass of chocolate milk, I guess,” she replied. She’d forsaken caffeine months ago, with the exception of her evening cup of tea. Since she’d never been fond of plain white milk, chocolate was her way of getting her calcium.
The waitress returned quickly with her milk and Laura took a long drink, enjoying the cool, sweet taste. She licked the froth from her top lip and settled more comfortably into the vinyl seat of the booth.
“Everything okay at the lawyer’s?” Gramps asked, looking up at her over his mug.
“Yes. Fine.”
“Don’t know why you need a lawyer anyway,” he grumbled. “They’re expensive.”
Didn’t she know it. And Gavin had helped her for free, because they were friends. His colleague was giving her a break because of Gavin, but it wasn’t free.
“It’s complicated,” she replied, drinking again. She put down her glass. “Nothing for you to worry about, though. Promise.” She smiled. Gramps was gruff, but she knew he worried and cared. He wasn’t a fan of her raising her baby alone, but he’d never said a word about Gavin, or the fact that he’d been married. It was as though they’d agreed to not mention it.
He put down his fork. “Laura, are you okay? Really? I’m old and I’m not good for much, but if you need help...”
She melted a bit, her frustration of the last week ebbing away. She touched his fingers with her free hand. “I’m fine, Gramps. I’ve made some mistakes, but I’m working on getting my life back on track.”
“You know how I feel about some of that,” he murmured, keeping his voice low. “But you’re a Jessup. And you’re made of strong stuff. You can do whatever you set your mind to.”
Except protect myself, she thought, hating the idea that she could feel so helpless, hating even more that she was scared. Still, the praise made her feel stronger. “Thank you, Gramps.”
“Humph,” he said, back to his gruff self. But she smiled a little to herself.
Laura didn’t notice anyone approaching the table until she heard the voice that sent shivers of pleasure rippling up her spine. “So, did you end up replacing the battery?”
She swallowed and looked up to find Tanner standing beside the booth, an easy grin on his face.
It would be easier if he weren’t so darn handsome. His dark hair was slightly mussed, his blue eyes twinkled down at her and his plaid shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing a small V of tanned skin.
She hoped she wasn’t blushing. “I did, yes. The guy from McNulty’s was kind enough to bring one out and put it in for me.”
Tanner frowned. “I would have done that, and saved you the labor cost.”
“Thanks, but it wasn’t that bad.” She glanced over at her grandfather. “Gramps, have you met Tanner Hudson? Tanner, this is my grandfather, Charlie.”
Tanner held out his hand. “Sir,” he said, giving a nod as they shook hands.
“Tanner’s the one who gave me a boost the other day,” Laura explained.
“Have a seat,” Gramps said. “Laura’s always so bent on doing everything herself, but I’m glad there are some people who are willing to lend a hand—even when she won’t admit she needs one.”
Laura gaped at him. Hadn’t he just said she could do anything? Of course. He still prescribed to the old school where certain things were “man’s work.” Auto repair clearly being one of them.
Tanner slid into the booth beside her, and she quickly scooched over so they weren’t pressed together. To her annoyance, he gave Gramps his winningest smile. “Happy to do it. Though from what I’ve seen, Laura’s pretty capable of handling herself.”
Gramps gave Tanner a long look, then a quick nod and calmly cut another bite of pie with the edge of his fork.
The waitress came over with a coffee and doughnut for Tanner, and he thanked her with a wink and a smile.
“You’re not working out at the ranch today?” Laura asked.
“I had to make a run in to the hardware store. I was going to grab a coffee to go, but I saw you and thought I’d see how you made out after the other day.” He shrugged. “At least the weather’s improved. Much more spring-like.”
He looked over at her half-empty glass. “Chocolate milk?”
She grinned. “What can I say? I’m a kid at heart.”
“Speaking of kids...” He peered around her shoulder at Rowan. “Wow. She’s cute.”
“Thanks.” Laura looked down at Rowan and a familiar wave of love washed over her. “She’s been an angel all day, so I’m waiting for things to go south really soon. We’ve been to Great Falls to the hospital to visit my grandmother, and then went to a couple of appointments. Babies have a way of letting you know when they’ve had enough.”
“I bet. Your grandmother—is she okay?”
“She’s had a lung infection, but we hope she’ll be out of the hospital on the weekend. Gramp’s been staying with us in the meantime.”
“Laura’s been taking good care of me,” Gramps said, pushing his pie plate away. He patted his belly. “That was a good piece of pie. Maybe I should have another.”
Laura felt a flush infuse her cheeks. “You’re just saying that because I can hardly boil water. I wouldn’t let you starve, Gramps.”
He grinned and picked up his tea. “Honey, I know that. You got your looks from your grandmother. But you didn’t get her cooking skills. That’s just a fact.”
He looked so amiable that Laura couldn’t be mad—though she was embarrassed. Particularly when Tanner chuckled beside her.
Rowan wriggled in her arms and Laura looked down. “We should probably get going soon,” she said. “Dragging her from pillar to post today means she hasn’t had her regular sleep or feeding schedule. This could get ugly.” She aimed a stern look at Charlie. “She has the Jessup temper.”
Tanner laughed and Gramps sent her a look of approval. But then Tanner peeked over at Rowan, and Laura suddenly felt uncomfortable. Sure, there was a lot of Jessup in Ro, but Tanner was probably looking for bits of Gavin. He was nice to her, but he probably thought the same as everyone else. Plus, he was connected to Maddy through Cole. And while Maddy and Cole knew the truth, no one else did. Besides her lawyer, they were the only people she’d trusted in all of Gibson, and that was only because her conscience couldn’t take it anymore.
Tanner’s face remained relaxed and pleasant, though, and she gave Ro a little bounce on her knee. The baby giggled and then shoved a fist into her mouth, sucking on her fingers. A sure sign she was getting hungry.
“Are you almost ready, Gramps?” Laura tried to urge him along. But Gramps had either forgotten the urgency of small babies or was determined not to be rushed, because he shifted in his seat and lifted his teacup. “Just a bit of tea left. I won’t be long.”
The noises from Ro chewing on her fist got louder and Laura smiled weakly at Tanner as he bit into his doughnut. A familiar tingling started and Laura realized it had been nearly