Page 35 of Mountain Bean Dream
“Grandma, I want you to meet a friend of mine.” Gently he wheeled her chair around. “This is Molly.”
“Molly,” she echoed in a hoarse voice. “Not a name you hear much of these days.”
“She brought cookies for after our supper.” Jeremy set thebag with the food in it on the table. “I brought you tomato soup and bread.” He turned and whispered to me. “It’s the soft insides of a baguette because the crust is too hard. But I have baguette slices for us.”
Seriously, he was too sweet.
“Peeshaw, I’ll have a cookie now.” There was a wry smile on Grandma’s face that was a borderline copy of the one Jeremy gave me. “Life’s too short to wait.”
“Who am I to argue?” He pulled out the container and held it up for her.
Delicately, she plucked out the bottom cookie and took a nibble. Crumbs coated her shirt with each bite, and it didn’t take long until the cookie had disappeared.
Jeremy shot a raised eyebrow in my direction before he asked, “Was that good, Grandma?”
“I want another.” She made pinching motions with her hands.
“Well done.” Jeremy winked at me. “She doesn’t usually have seconds.”
Grandma waved her hand. “Sit, Molly. Stop standing around. You’re too tall and it hurts my neck to look up to you.”
Quickly, I draped my jacket over a chair, and sat in one nearer to her, hunching over and crossing my legs.
She faced her grandson. “Who is she?”
“That’s Molly.”
“I’m old, but not that forgetful. I got her name. Who is she to you?”
Jeremy secured her chair in place and dragged a brown fabric chair closer to sit upon. “She’s a friend.” He shot me a quick amused look. “She works at the Coffee Loft I frequent and she’s one of the monthly renters at the motel.”
I held my breath waiting to see if he was going to tell her we were fake dating.
“Mmhmm. And what’s she doing here with you?” Her steel-eyed gaze stayed locked on her grandson as if I wasn’t even there.
“After supper with you, I’m going to bring her car back home. But I figured you’d like to meet her, play some cards, and see someone different.”
“There’s a new nurse that roams the halls. He’s different.”
“Grandma.”
I shifted uncomfortably but kept my best half-smile on, although there were other places I’d rather be.
Weathered eyes full of wisdom searched up and down my body, settling on my face. Her expression softened and she slumped more in her spot. “What happened to your arm?”
I threw a glance to Jeremy before settling back on her. “I tripped backward and fell. It’s not broken, but it’s very sore. I tend to be a bit of a klutz.”
She tsked. “Your generation is so soft. In my day…”
Jeremy gently put his hand on hers. “Grandma! Let’s be nice to this one. She only fell last night and it needs time to heal.”
Her shoulders rose and she leaned toward her grandson. “You taking care of her, Jimmy?”
“Yes, ma’am. As much as I can.” He looked at me from the side of his eyes, but I didn’t miss the crimson staining his cheeks under his beard. “As much as she’ll let me.”
“Well, go for the big, grand gestures.” She lifted her brows as she stared at me with an assessing eye that made me feel two inches high. “She’s cute but young, and she looks familiar.” She grabbed another cookie, narrowing her eyes until the colour of her irises was barely visible. “Do I know you?”
I shook my head, as a burst of adrenaline burst into my system. “No, ma’am. I’ve only been in Jasper since the end of September, and this is my first visit to the Lodge.”