Page 17

“Gran, the doctor said no weight bearing on your left side, remember?” Sadie reached for her grandmother’s arm.

Gran shook off her hand. “Sadie, I’m fine. Stop treating me like a fragile flower.”

Sadie’s cheeks heated at Gran’s unusual brusqueness. Her independent grandma hated being hampered by the walker.

Practically elbowing Sadie out of the doorway, Gran moved past her. Her eyes warmed as she smiled at Asher. “Asher Quinn, what are you doing standing on the front porch? You know you don’t need an invitation to come into my home.”

He directed a look at Sadie as if to imply she was being the gatekeeper. She stepped back and waved him inside.

She followed them into the living room, where Gran lowered herself into the dark gray lift chair Sadie’s parents had delivered the day before her surgery…under great protest, but Gran didn’t seem to mind it now.

A light breeze fluttered the lace curtains at the open window next to Gran’s chair, which overlooked the side of the porch with the damaged railing. Family photos of Gramps and Gran at the bakery, Sadie’s parents on their wedding day, and Sadie and Lauren through the years lined the light-gray walls.

Soft music drifted from the kitchen where Gran must’ve been puttering before going out to the porch to see Asher.

“So, what’s this I hear about you helping with stage construction?”

Asher’s face softened as he sat on the gray couch and leaned against one of the gray and white Buffalo checked pillows. Georgie jumped up next to him and pawed at Asher’s faded black T-shirt with a guitar stretched across the chest.

Asher picked up the dog gently, and Georgie settled on Asher’s legs as if he’d done it many times in the past.

“Dani is putting together a crew to build a stage for a music festival that will be held at the end of September. Apparently, she thinks I’m handy with a hammer and sent your granddaughter to ask me to help.”

“Well, I concur. I’ve seen your work. You’d be an asset to the stage construction crew.”

“Speaking of construction, sorry about the tree.” Asher jerked his head toward the front door. “I’ll get it moved and your porch railing fixed as quickly as I can.”

Gran waved away his words. “Don’t worry yourself over it. Sadie called the insurance company, and we’re waiting to hear back from them.”

“Still, I don’t want it to cause more problems.” He glanced at Sadie. “Have you taken pictures?”

She gave him a blank stare, then shifted her eyes to the phone on the coffee table. She swiped it and tapped on her camera. “No, I didn’t think about it. I’ll do it now.”

As she headed outside, the phone vibrated in her hand. Not recognizing the number, she nearly let it go to voicemail, then remembered waiting for the insurance company to return her call.

“Hello?”

“This is Blue Lake Insurance calling for Henrietta Hudson.”

“Henrietta is my grandmother. One moment, please.” As Sadie reached for the screen door, warm laughter met her. She stepped into the living room and found Gran laughing and a genuine smile on Asher’s face.

She tried not to stare, but his whole demeanor changed. He seemed so at ease around Gran. But that wasn’t surprising. Gran had a way of making everyone feel at home.

She handed the phone to Gran. “The insurance company.”

Gran nodded and took the phone. “Hello?”

Sadie turned back to Asher. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thanks. I’m good.” Pushing to his feet, Asher nodded toward the door. “I’m going to take a look at the railing and see how much damage was done.”

As he pushed through the door, Sadie wavered between following him and staying put in case Gran needed her.

“Sadie.”

Sadie turned and found Gran looking out the window next to her chair with a hand covering her mouth as a tear drifted down her cheek.

Gran seldom cried. And now Sadie had witnessed tears twice in the same day. Could she still blame the pain meds, or was there a deeper issue?