Page 16 of Sunkissed Colorado

My grandpa had celebrated his eightieth birthday last year. His pompadour was pure white now instead of glossy black. But he still had one of the most booming voices I’d ever heard. Growing up, when my grandpa entered a room, everybody knew. Even lying in a hospital bed, dressed in a thin cotton gown, he had a formidable presence.

Then he saw me, his gaze narrowing. “If it isn’t my granddaughter. An objective observer. Zandra, try these eggs and tellme they aren’t some soy protein monstrosity. Because I guarantee, these didn’t come from a natural chicken.”

“Hi, Grandpa.” I bent to kiss his cheek. Then I gave his nurse an apologetic smile. “Sorry about him.”

“I’m used to it,” she deadpanned. “He’s in quite a mood today. Good luck.”

“Don’t patronize me. Just get this slop you call food out of my sight. Now, where’s my phone? I need to make sure Hearthstone hasn’t burned to the ground without me yet.”

Oh, yeah. Definitely in a mood.

The nurse left the room, and Rosie and I took up places on either side of Grandpa’s bed. Opening my purse, I tugged out the bag I’d brought with me. The stiff paper crinkled as I pulled the box of chicken nuggets from inside.

“I swung by the drive-through on my way here this morning,” I said. “In case you’re still hungry.”

A genuine smile dawned on Grandpa’s face. “My granddaughter’s the smartest person in our family. Isn’t that what I always say, Rosie?”

My aunt grinned fondly at me. “You do. And she is.”

Grandpa dug in to his nuggets. He usually turned up his nose at fast food, but these were his guilty pleasure.

Maybe I’d screwed up my life in Chicago, but I still knew how to tame Manny Alvarez when he was being a terror.

I sat gently on the edge of the bed. “How’ve you been feeling, Grandpa?”

“Like I got cut open and stuffed full of metal pins to hold me together.” He wiped his fingers on a paper napkin. “Let’s talk about you. Your mother and father already stopped by this morning. They’re very concerned about what’s going on between you and Ian.”

I sighed. I’d assumed my parents had been talking about me, since Rosie had known about Ian too, but I’d hoped to avoid any more lectures about my failings. At least until after the nuggets were gone.

“Promise me one thing.” Grandpa turned his intense focus on me. “No matter what nonsense my son and his wife spout, promise you won’t take Ian back. Even if he comes groveling, and he will.”

A smile played on my lips. “I doubt that. But I promise, Grandpa. Ian and I are done.”

“Never liked him anyway. No cojones. Maybe they were there anatomically, but they’re tiny and shriveled. You would know better than me.”

I sputtered a laugh. “Grandpa.”

“He’s right though, Z,” Rosie said. “I never liked Ian either. He seemed all wrong for you.”

“Ian was the wrong guy,” I admitted. “I was chasing a lot of the wrong things and wasted years of my life without seeing it. But I’m here now, and I want to help however I can.”

“Too bad it took this old body nearly cracking in two to drag you home.”

I winced. “Sorry, Grandpa.”

“No, that’s not fair,” Rosie countered. “Zandra’s done her best, as have we all.”

Grandpa grumbled. “Well, at least you’re here. Missed you.”

“Missed you too.”

After he polished off the last nugget, Rosie helped clear away the trash. Grandpa sat up straighter against his pillows like he was about to call a business meeting. “Now, we should get to practical matters. I hear you’re looking for a job.”

Groan. Mom and Dad had spilled everything, hadn’t they?

“That’s on my agenda,” I said with my jaw clenched. “But right now, I’m here to visit with you. You don’t need to worry about my employment situation.”

“What Ineedis a time machine to take years off my life and make me buy a new ladder instead of that shoddy piece of crap I fell from.”