TAME AN OLDER MAN

by Kara Lennox

  "You're cute when you're panicked."

  She huffed and shoved her feet into sandals, wondering where she'd left her purse. Well, she'd worry about that later.

  Wyatt quickly kissed her. "I'll call you in a few minutes to come over for coffee. Together we can share our good news with them."

  Phoebe's stomach fluttered. She loved the Madisons like her very own grandparents, but she wasn't sure how they would feel about her taking over their adored grandson.

  "They'll be thrilled," Wyatt said, giving her one more quick kiss before exiting the room.

  Phoebe listened through the cracked door as Wyatt welcomed Rolland and Helen. She felt warm all over as she heard the love they felt for each other, evidenced in their affectionate greeting. She couldn't wait to be part of this wonderful family. On top of the new understanding she and Olga had come to, she felt truly blessed.

  She was so happy, in fact, that she wanted everyone to enjoy the same bliss. But so far Daisy was still alone. Then there were Frannie and Bill. Phoebe knew they truly cared for one another, but Frannie was still nursing her hurt feelings and Bill was certain he'd done nothing to warrant her cold shoulder.

  "Let's go out on the balcony," she heard Wyatt say to his grandparents. "The cactus is blooming."

  "Which one?" Helen asked excitedly. "The pink or the yellow?"

  "Both."

  "Did you talk to them?"

  "I did, but they didn't start blooming until I got stern with them…" Their voices faded away.

  Phoebe took a deep breath, darted down the hall and made for the front door. She realized as she reached for the knob that her keys were in her misplaced purse, but she supposed she could hang out with one of her other neighbors for a while.

  "Don't you need this, Phoebe?"

  Phoebe whirled around, her heart in her throat, to see Helen standing in the living room holding Phoebe's purse, a big smile on her face.

  "How … what…" Phoebe's face burned. "Didn't you want to see the cactus?"

  "I came back in to find my glasses. Don't look so stricken, dear. I already knew about you and Wyatt."

  "How?"

  "We ran into Frannie on our way into the building. She couldn't wait to spill the beans. We couldn't be happier. And don't worry, I remember what it was like to be young and in love." Helen stepped closer and handed Phoebe her purse. "Run home, now. I'll pretend like I never saw you."

  Phoebe gave her a quick hug. "I think of you as my grandmother, you know."

  "Well, I try. I'm sorry you didn't know your real grandma very well. But trust me when I say she would have been very happy to see you settled with Wyatt. She liked Wyatt."

  "Wyatt knew my grandmother?"

  Helen nodded. "I think that might be why she left you her condo in her will. She and I, well, we always thought the two of you might make a good couple."

  "Why, you schemers!"

  The French doors from the balcony opened, and Rolland stepped inside. "Helen? Can't you find your— oh, hello, Phoebe."

  "Phoebe stopped in for coffee," Helen said smoothly, taking Phoebe's arm as if she'd just arrived. She picked up her glasses from an end table where she'd left them, and they all joined Wyatt outside. He looked slightly surprised to see Phoebe, but he didn't hesitate to slip an arm around her and draw her next to him on the picnic table bench where he sat.

  "I guess now's as good a time as any to tell you guys there've been a few changes while you were away…"

  Phoebe sat back and let Wyatt enjoy breaking the joyful news, even though she knew Rolland and Helen already knew. Her happiness bloomed, just the way Helen's prickly cactus had bloomed when it got the right amounts of sun, water, love and a stern talking-to.

  * * * *