by Jane Porter
It was a good fifteen minute walk and the wind blew hard the entire time, the blast cold and strong. He ran a hand through his hair. Amanda Wright had given him a good cut, but he wasn’t sure what to think of her. She looked soft and pretty but she didn’t pull punches, and ordinarily he appreciated straight talk—he was known for being a hard hitter himself—but he didn’t need her lecturing him on his grandmother. Who was she to judge him? Furthermore, who was she to come between him and his grandmother?
He didn’t want to move Gram, but he didn’t have a choice. She was almost eighty and she wasn’t as strong as she used to be. She needed her family around her. She needed to be looked after, and not by strangers. Once she moved to Austin he’d be there to keep an eye on her. He could have lunch with her and dinners with her. Their visits wouldn’t be so painfully infrequent. He hated that it took multiple flights to get to his grandmother, requiring him to schedule visits weeks, if not months, in advance. Gram was special, and now that his dad was gone, Tyler was the only family she had left. Which was why he’d flown in a few days early, just to check out Marietta, and the people his grandmother had become so very attached to, namely Amanda Wright.
From Texas he’d done some research and what he’d learned about Amanda hadn’t been all that reassuring, either. She was a credit risk. Not even the Bank of Marietta would give her a loan to close on the little house on Second and Church Streets. But Gram would, and did. His grandmother was generous to a fault and from what he was hearing in Texas, he feared she was being taken advantage of. He wouldn’t be a very good grandson if he didn’t come to Marietta and do some additional investigative work. Gram deserved to be protected, and she knew what his plans were for her. It wasn’t as if he’d kept the Austin guesthouse a secret. He’d shared his plans with her from the beginning, and asked for her preferences in materials and layout. True, she hadn’t been very enthused, but he believed with time she’d not just get used to the idea, but excited. He hoped to have her moved, if not by this spring, then by the end of summer so she wouldn’t have to go through another harsh Montana winter on her own. It was just a matter of getting her to agree and then he’d handle all the moving arrangements.
And then he was there, at her little white house with the pale sage-green door. Her flowerboxes tucked beneath the tall windows flanking the front door were like little dollhouse flowerbeds with miniature conifers, ivy, and the fragrant paper-white. Lace curtains hung on the inside of the tall windows, concealing the interior. Little here seemed to change. Gram kept everything absolutely meticulous. He felt a tug of emotion as he knocked on the front door, thinking Gram had sometimes been the only constant in a world of change.
His parents struggled after Coby died, unable to grieve together, they’d grown apart, his dad always away, immersed in his work and his love of dangerous sports—skiing, mountain climbing, mountain biking—while his mother earned her real estate license and became one of the top Realtors in Los Gatos. Tyler hadn’t known how to grieve, either. He’d been the younger brother his whole life and now the big brother he’d looked up to, the brother who’d never made a misstep, the brother who’d made his parents so very proud, was gone.
Tyler couldn’t possibly fill Coby’s shoes, and so he hadn’t even tried. Instead he lost himself in his games, preferring the worlds he created over the real world filled with loss and pain.
Thank God for Gram. She might have lived halfway across the country but she was his rock, and his inspiration. She lived life with joy.
He knocked a second time, more firmly.
A lace panel lifted at one of the tall windows, and then moments later the front door flew. “Tyler!” His grandmother reached for him, patting his chest. “Look at you! What a surprise! I wasn’t expecting you until Friday!”
He grinned. “Hello, Gram.” He leaned over and gave her a firm hug and kiss on her soft, warm cheek. She was a little more slender, a little smaller, but still his beloved grandmother. “I arrived early.”
“My goodness. Isn’t this wonderful! Come in, come in. Are you hungry? Have you had lunch?”
“I just ate. I’ve checked into the Graff—”
“What? Why would you do that?”
“I’ve got some work to do while I’m here and until it’s wrapped up, I’m better at a hotel with a business office.”
His grandmother closed the front door and drew him down the hall and into her kitchen where she pulled out a chair for him to sit at her kitchen table. “How about coffee or tea then?”
“A cup of tea would be nice. It’s cold out there.”
“It’s actually quite nice today for February, but it’s that wind. It just chills one to the bone.”
She filled the kettle and put it on a burner, before laying out two teacups and saucers, and filled a dainty blue-and-white-pattern plate with dainty sugar cookies she took from the freezer. “They’re from Christmas when I did my baking,” she said, as if reading his mind, “but they’re still fresh. I treat myself to two a day, but that’s all. I don’t want to put weight on at my age because I’ll never get it off.”
He smiled affectionately as he settled back in his chair. She was wearing dark trousers paired with a gray sweater and another layered sweater piece. “You look fantastic, Gram. Very stylish.”
She blushed and put a hand up to her chic silver pixie. “I just had my hair done today. Mandy gave it a little extra pizazz because she knew you were coming.”
“Mandy? That’s your hairdresser.”
“Amanda Wright, yes. I’ve told you all about her.”
“You have.”
The kettle boiled and she filled her china teapot with hot water, and then added in the tea bags, placing all on a tray. When she moved to lift the tray, he rose. “Let me carry that, Gram.”
“I can do it.”
“I know, but I’m here, so let me help.”
“You fuss over me too much.”
“Maybe because Dad and Grandpa didn’t fuss enough.”
She gave him a quick, sharp look before following him to the table. “They did their best—”
“They didn’t. They always put themselves first.” And it crossed his mind the moment the words were out that he’d done the very thing for much of his life, too.
They’d all leaned on her, and taken advantage of her love, but had any of them ever considered what she needed? The realization strengthened his resolve to do better, and be there for her in the future. He’d accomplished so much in his career, but what was the point of success if he didn’t have time for the people that mattered? And Gram mattered.
He held her chair, waiting for her to be seated before he sat down.
She gazed across the table, her blue eyes bright in her lined face, and yet the creases and wrinkles did nothing to diminish her beauty.
“It’s really good to see you, Gram. It’s been too long. I’m sorry I didn’t make it at Christmas as planned.”
“Your work keeps you busy.”
“That’s why I want you to join me—”
“How did you get away from work? You’re here days early. I thought it was difficult taking time off?”
“It’s a long way to come for just the weekend so this way I can work and see you. The best of both worlds.”
She didn’t immediately answer, focusing instead on arranging their cups and saucers and shifting the sugar bowl so it sat on the table halfway between them. After a minute she lifted the lid on the teapot and checked the tea before replacing it. “Just another minute to let it steep,” she said.
“I’m in no hurry. I have nowhere to go.”
Her blue gaze lifted and looked straight at him. “You look tired, Tyler. Is everything alright?”
“Just up early this morning for my flight.” He patted his cheekbone. “Maybe I need some under eye cream… would that help with the puffiness? Or what would you suggest since you’ve cornered the market on beauty?”
She blushed, and laughed, just as he’d in
tended. “Thank you, but you can’t distract me. I am concerned about you. You don’t seem to have much of a life, Tyler. Are you dating? Have a girl… is there a significant other?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“It’s hard balancing everything right now, Gram, but I’m working on it.”
“Hmph.”
“I am, really. And that’s why I’m here. I want to make you a priority. I still feel bad about cancelling at the last minute my visit at Christmas.”
“Tyler, I was married to a military man. I understand work and commitments, I do.”
He watched her lift the teapot and begin filling their cups. “Speaking of commitments,” he said carefully, “you mentioned to me on the phone that you’ve been meeting with your attorney. You’re amending your will?”
“I haven’t yet, no, but thinking about it.” She set the pot down. “I’ve lived here for my entire life and want to leave something behind, something that can be my legacy.”
He felt a painful knot in his chest. The idea of a world without his grandmother wasn’t something he could contemplate.
“You are, of course, my legacy, too,” she added, “but this town has meant a great deal to me and I’d like to do something for it… give something back to help those here who are less fortunate than me.”
“I think that’s an excellent idea. Are you thinking of starting a foundation, or is there a charity you’re involved with?”
“There are a couple charities I give to, but what I want to do is less formal. I’ve someone I’d like to support.”
“Someone?” he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.
But she must have heard his tension because her head lifted and she gave him one of her no-nonsense looks. “I’m telling you so you’d be aware of my plans, not so you can judge.”
“I’m not judging.”
“Good. Because my personal finances are my own business.” She gave him a sweet smile as if to soften her firm words. “I would hope at my age I don’t have to explain my decisions to anyone.”
He struggled to find the right words and the right tone as this was sensitive ground. “I just don’t want you being taken advantage of, Gram.”
“And who would be taking advantage of me, Tyler?”
“Any number of unscrupulous people—”
She added a small teaspoon of sugar to her tea and gave it a gentle stir. “Fortunately, I don’t know anyone like that.”
He hesitated, counting to ten, aware he was on perilous ground, but this was why he’d come here, and this was why he’d left Austin even though everything was chaotic.
He couldn’t back away now. “Or friendly, well-meaning acquaintances, who might somehow make you feel responsible for their dreams or goals?”
“I don’t know anyone like that, either.”
“Gram, you are too kind for your own good.”
She set her spoon down with a clink. “Tyler, what is this all about?”
Should he tell her? Should he not? Honesty won in the end. “The hair salon. Amanda Wright.”
His grandmother didn’t even blink. She just looked at him with her wide blue gaze, her expression impossibly trusting, and, for a moment, he thought he’d give anything for her serenity. But he’d never be her, and he could only do what he believed was right.
“Gram,” he growled. “Stop being so difficult. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing is going on.”
“You’ve given Amanda Wright a small fortune.”
“That is absolutely not true. I invested in her business. There is a big difference.”
He took a sip of tea, and then another. Women were maddening. His grandmother the most maddening of all.
“Why would you do that?” he asked when he was certain his voice was pleasant.
“Because I believe in her. She’s a smart young woman and this town needs her. She’s good for Marietta, and I’m lucky to be her business partner.”
He nearly choked on his tea. “Her business partner?”
“She has great ideas and I want her to make them happen.”
It was so much worse than he thought. Amanda had never mentioned that his grandmother was her business partner either. There was no reason for him to have felt guilty investigating her. His only regret was that he hadn’t checked her out more thoroughly. “Gram, your guesthouse is completely ready. It’s all brand-new, and it’s gorgeous. You’d love it. Please come live with me in Austin—”
“Austin?”
“Yes, Austin. It’s where I live.”
“I thought you were in San Jose. Isn’t that where Silicon Valley is?”
“I moved to Texas two years ago, Gram. That’s why I’ve been sending you books and magazines about Texas, and why I gave you that subscription to Austin Monthly for Christmas, so you’d get to know the city and surrounding area—”
“You’re the one that sent me the magazine? I thought it was one of those credit card companies.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Because you get points with some cards, and if you don’t use them, they give you a choice of magazines.”
Tyler’s brow furrowed. He honestly didn’t know what to make of this conversation. Had he stayed away too long? Been too immersed in his work? Dear God, his grandmother wasn’t going senile, was she?
She reached over and patted his arm. “Don’t look so anxious. I just thought you were still in California.” She gave him a quizzical glance. “Your mom is still there, isn’t she? Because I could have sworn I got a Christmas card from her with a Los Gatos address.”
“She’s still in Los Gatos.”
“So why did you move?”
“I sold my company to a Texas corporation and they wanted me to stay on as the head of Justice Games.”
“Have you asked your mom to move?”
“No, because she’s remarried, and you know that. I’m sure you got the same Christmas card of them in Florence that I did.” And just saying the words felt like touching a bruise.
He was glad his mother was finally happy, just sorry it had taken her so long to find contentment. And yet they still never discussed Coby, and it had been more than fourteen years since his brother had died.
“She looks happy.”
“She is,” he said huskily.
Gram must have understood because she suddenly reached over and took his hand. “It’s a good thing,” she said firmly. “Your mother lost her oldest son, and then your father, and I’m glad she’s found someone who can love her and give her life meaning.”
Your mother lost her oldest son…
Coby.
He held her cool, dry fingers, her skin so soft in his. “Do you ever think about Coby?”
“Every day. I say a prayer for all my beautiful boys every day. Your grandfather, your father, and Coby. And then I say a prayer for you, thanking God I have you. And now you’re here. What fun. Aren’t I the luckiest?”
He, who didn’t cry, or feel, felt as if she’d mashed his heart. “Oh, Gram, I hate that you’re alone.”
“Only I’m not. I’m not lonely, either. My life is wonderful and full. I’m blessed, truly.” She released his hand and reached for the teapot and topped off their cups. “And I’m going to introduce you to my friends, starting with Amanda, tonight.”
Chapter Three
Even on vibrate, Mandy’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing and dancing around on the wooden shelf of her station. She knew who kept calling, too. She’d checked the phone the first three times. Bette clearly had something up her sleeve.
Finally on a break, Mandy listened to the voice messages accumulating.
Mandy, my grandson arrived early! He surprised me this afternoon. Please join us for dinner. Call me back, sweetheart, and let me know.
Mandy, can you join us for dinner? I’m thinking six o’clock. Where should we go for Tyler’s first night here?
Mandy, I was going to make a reservation
but wanted to be sure you could join us first…
Biting back a sigh, Amanda returned Bette’s call. “Sorry, Bette, I’ve had back-to-back appointments. It turned out to be a very busy day.”
“Does that mean you’re too tired to join Tyler and me for dinner? I hope not. Would it help if I promised that it wouldn’t be a late night?”
“Don’t you want to have a night where you two can just catch up?”
“Oh, we’ve had all afternoon, and we’ve made lovely plans for the week, but I want him to meet my friends, and I’ve told him all about you—”
“Oh, I wish you hadn’t,” Mandy said under her breath.
“Why not?”
“Because he won’t understand why we’re friends. He’ll think I’m too young, or a bad influence, or something.”
“He’s my grandson, not my father.”
Mandy laughed softly. She’d always enjoyed Bette’s feisty sense of humor. “Just don’t have too high of expectations, Bette. He might not like me.”
“How can you say that? He’ll take one look at you and fall in love—”
“I can assure you that is not going to happen.”
“You never know.”
“No, I do know. And you promised you weren’t going to be doing any matchmaking.”
“I’m not, Amanda, but I do think you two will hit it off. At least, I hope so, because I need your help. I need you to help him understand why Marietta is so special, and why you love Marietta just as much as I do.”
“Oh, Bette.”
“Just a couple days this week? Obviously not when you’re working, but maybe one evening after work, and maybe Saturday or Sunday?”
“I work Saturdays.”
“Then Sunday?”
“I’m not sure what I’ve planned,” Amanda said, reluctant to commit to anything with regard to Tyler.
“But we’re on for dinner tonight?”
Amanda sighed, knowing she’d already lost. She’d never been able to say no to Bette. “What time?”
