“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 didn’t place any limitations on me, and other than the bother of the cast, I feel perfectly normal.”
What could he do? Perhaps call on her maternal instincts? “How about staying home to visit with me today?”
“You’re right. I don’t want to miss the chance to visit with you. So you’re coming with me.” She grabbed her purse and headed out the front door. “Come on, son. I’m already late.”
So much for spending the morning making phone calls about the house. He patted his pocket to make sure he had his cell phone. He could make calls from the community center.
As they drove toward the town square, he caught Granny staring at him. “What?”
“It’s so nice to have you here. I’m tickled that everyone at the center will get to meet you. You’ll be a good role model for the little ones.”
“I still can’t believe you’re working there. How old are the kids?”
“Age three and up.”
“Do Gregory’s boys come?”
“No, they’re in full-time day care. The three-and four-year-olds only come in the mornings. In the afternoons, we have the after-school children. And senior citizens from the church come in the morning to socialize and to serve as volunteers to help with the children.”
He couldn’t believe his Granny hadn’t mentioned this. “Did you get started with the church group?”
“I’m actually the one who started the senior volunteer program. And I’ve applied for a grant to help fund a lunch program for the preschoolers.”
As he pulled into a parking place, he gaped at his grandmother. “You’re kidding.”
“Maybe I should be offended,” she said with a smile.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m truly impressed.”
“Maybe we’ll both receive our grants.” She patted his cheek. “Now come help me out of the car.”
He hurried around to open her door and give her a hand. Then she led the way inside. This new Granny was such a surprise. A nice surprise. Maybe he had Lindsay to thank for Granny’s newfound happiness and fulfillment.
As soon as they walked in, a dapperly dressed elderly gentleman hurried over to them. “Bea! Oh, Bea, are you okay? I heard you broke your wrist.” His face flamed red all the way to the top of his balding head.
She shooed at him as if he were a bothersome fly. “I’m perfectly fine, Mr. Kennedy.” Then she brushed past him.
Bill choked back a chuckle. The poor guy. Reminded him of how he felt his freshman year of high school whenever he had tried to make conversation with Lindsay. He’d followed her around like a lost puppy dog waiting for her to notice him, and when she had, he’d invariably made dumb, nonsensical comments.
The woman herself was leaning over a child at a small table, pointing to something the child was drawing with a crayon. Her deep red hair that used to hang all the way down her back now swung just below her chin, curving toward her face. She pushed it behind her ear as she smiled at the child.
He inhaled deeply to try to catch his breath. How could she still affect him so? Maybe he and Mr. Kennedy had a bit more in common than he first thought.
He turned to the man, who seemed engrossed in Granny’s every move. “Hi, Mr. Kennedy. I’m Bill Wellington, Bea’s grandson.”
“Oh, Bea talks about you all the time. You and your brother. I’m glad to finally meet you.”
“She insisted on working today, even after being in the hospital yesterday.”
“Stubborn woman. Believe me, I know.”
Bill swiped his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing at the frustration in the man’s voice. Then a sobering thought hit him. He would be taking Granny away from a man who obviously had a crush on her.
At least Granny didn’t seem to care for Mr. Kennedy.
“Bill, come meet the children,” Granny called from a low table across the room.
She introduced him to each child sitting around the table. One little boy seemed especially attached to Granny. He clung to her leg as she handed out papers.
“And this is Dylan. He’s my helper today.”
“I got to sign her cast,” Dylan told him proudly.
“Oh, let me see.” Bill checked out his scribbled name in purple marker. “Nice job.”
Granny ruffled the boy’s hair. “Dylan, why don’t you sit down and work the puzzle with the rest of the children.”
“Okay, Granny Bea.” He slid into a small wooden chair and began to connect the dots on the page. His tongue hung out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrated.
Granny beamed at Bill. “This is what I look forward to three days a week.”
Lindsay approached. “Granny Bea, now that the kids are busy, could you go ahead and start the bingo game for our adults?”
“Sure thing. Be back in a jiffy.” She hurried to the other side of the room, full of more energy than ever before.
“How long do the little ones stay?” he asked Lindsay.
“We feed them lunch, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches donated from our church right now. But your grandmother has applied for a federal grant for funding for a fuller meal.”
“She mentioned that. When do the older kids get here?”
“After school, around three o’clock. We feed them a snack, help with homework, then play educational games.”
“And the center is open three days a week?”
She reached over to pick up a crayon Dylan had dropped, then patted him on the back. “So far. We hope to move to five days a week in the next year or so. It was a small program we started as a ministry at the church one day a week, but we’re working with the county to get it fully funded. They’re already providing the building.”
“Impressive.”
“Your granny has had a lot to do with the success of the program. We really need her.” She stared at him as if in challenge. She appeared very determined.
So was he. “I understand.”
Granny walked up. “So, Bill, what do you think of our little community center?”
“It’s amazing what you’ve all done. Kudos to both of you.”
“Bea?” Mr. Kennedy tapped her on the shoulder.
She huffed as if irritated. “Yes?”
“Would you go out to dinner with me this evening?”
Granny slapped a hand to her chest. “Why, Mr. Kennedy, you can’t fraternize with the staff.”
“I didn’t ask you to fraternize. I only asked you to dinner.”
Obviously flustered, she sputtered, “I can’t do anything tonight. I have company.”
“Well, that’s the problem. I hear Bill may be moving you up to Boston, and I can’t bear to see you go.” He tugged on his bow tie, which left it slightly crooked.
Bill arched his brows at Lindsay. Seemed she’d been talking to Granny’s…not-quite-boyfriend.
“That’s none of your