Missy Tippens - His Forever Love

Bill mumbled soft words she couldn’t decipher.

Granny laughed. Cackled, actually. “I’m not getting feeble, son. I just took a fall. And look, I didn’t break. Well, except for the wrist.”

As Lindsay walked in, Bill said, “You’re getting to an age where you may need some help.”

“Lindsay gives me all the help I need. Which is mainly a ride around town. I’m not driving much anymore.”

Lindsay took her place beside Granny Bea. “She’s insisted on keeping her license and car, but I don’t let her drive. So don’t worry about that.”

“It’s for an emergency,” Granny Bea added.

Bill looked from Granny Bea to her, then back. “I’ve been thinking about this move off and on for a few years. At one time, I even checked out an adult day-care facility near my office. You would have activities during the day, then I would be home with you at night.”

“I have plenty of activities here. Lindsay and I coordinate trips for the seniors’ group at church. And we work three days a week at the community center—all those precious, needy kids, plus a few old codgers who are lonely and come to volunteer. They keep me young. I couldn’t give that up.”

“Well, looks like that’s two votes against one.” Lindsay held up two fingers on one hand and one finger on the other. “I guess Granny Bea will be staying here.”

Apparently, Bill didn’t appreciate her scorekeeping. He didn’t crack a smile, and she could practically see the cogs working in his mind.

He could think all he wanted. She wasn’t budging.

As Granny began to nod off, Bill walked through the house, noting the condition of each room. Carpet needed replacing. When they’d driven up, he’d noticed the roof was on its last leg.

They had a good bit of work ahead of them if they were going to sell the house. Not to mention the accumulation of belongings from over fifty years in the house.

Lindsay followed him through the rooms, watching his every move. “What are you doing?” she finally asked.

“I’m certain Granny will come around to the idea of moving in with me. I’m noting repairs that need to be done before putting the house on the market.”

“Your grandmother is fine. Give her time to recover before you make any drastic decisions.”

“It’s not just the fall. She’s vulnerable here all alone.”

“Just promise me you won’t make a knee-jerk decision.”

“I never do that.”

She nodded. She knew he took a scientific approach to life. At least he used to. “Well, I guess I’ll go throw something together for dinner.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can take over from here.”

“Cooking her meals is part of my job.”

Three times he’d hired someone to help Granny, and she’d fired every one of them. And now she’d hired Lindsay herself. “Okay. Well, let me know if you need any help.”

She eyed him warily. “You can cook?”

He smiled. “According to my coworkers, I’m a great cook. Granny taught me.”

“Hmm. I’ll holler if I need you.” She headed toward the kitchen with one quick glance over her shoulder. As if she didn’t trust him.

It was no wonder she didn’t trust him. Cooking. Or otherwise. He’d left town fifteen years ago without any warning.

But he’d been crazy about her. He’d been her lab partner and study partner for years, while silently wishing for more. Then during their senior year, despite the fact that she was dating Joey Peck, he’d decided it was time to tell her how he felt about her.

He’d resisted all along because he was such a joke at school. He was sure she wouldn’t even consider dating the school’s number-one geek. But as graduation approached, he sensed a new relationship forming. She seemed more confident, more sure of who she was and where she was going.

And maybe it had been wishful thinking, but he thought he’d detected a flash of attraction one night while they studied for finals side by side on Granny’s porch swing.

So he’d gone out and bought her an angel figurine for her collection. It had a plaque that said I Love You. His hands had shaken as he paid for it, then wrapped it up. He’d sent Granny and his brother to the movie that night, and invited Lindsay over. He waited in the swing with the wrapped gift.

She’d shown up squealing, flashing a microscopic diamond on her left ring finger. The thing seemed to wink at him when the stone caught the rays of the setting sun and flashed with each movement as she snatched up the gift, then tore off the wrapping paper.

When she first saw the angel, she froze in place.

He’d sat silently. In shock. Grieving. Mortified.

Then she’d smiled at him, but he could see the question in her eyes.

Because he couldn’t stand for her to know the truth, he told her she was the best friend a guy could ever have.

She’d shown relief, then had chatted about the wedding plans over dinner.

It was the longest night of his life.

The next day he loaded his car to the roof and informed Granny he was going to move to Boston early. He left and never looked back. He couldn’t bear to do otherwise.

He shook his head and himself back to the present. No, Lindsay probably shouldn’t trust him. He’d told her she was important to him then abandoned her. He’d taken the cowardly way out when he’d left town. And he’d felt terrible about not answering her phone call and letter. But he’d gone into self-protect mode. He’d had to.

Now he was back in Magnolia and had already upset her. No wonder she looked at him askance.

Once he’d unpacked, Bill found Granny snoozing in her chair in front of the blaring TV. He turned the volume down, and as he did so, she stirred.

“Wh—what’s wrong?” she asked groggily.

He couldn’t help but laugh. She’d slept through the cacophony of the evening news, but woke when the room got quiet.

“It’s me, Granny.”

“Oh, Bill, honey, I’m so glad you’re still here.” She lurched forward a couple of times trying to stand, but couldn’t get out of her chair. He took her arm and helped pull her up, then hugged her, relishing the familiar fragrance of her hair and her face powder.

He held her away from him to get a good look. “How are your head and arm feeling?”

“Both fine. No pain at all.”

“Good. Lindsay’s making dinner. Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“So, how many days a week does she come?”

“She stays with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the days we’re not working at the community center. Plus, she’s always checked on me on the weekends anyway.”

“I’m glad you’ve had someone to take care of you. But I think we really do need to talk about moving you to Boston.”

She looked around the room and appeared to retreat to her own world. A smile lit her face. “I won’t ever be ready to leave this place, son, even though I do realize sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do. Of course, it’s not time yet. I’ll let you know when it is.”

“I’m sorry, Granny. With the fall and all, and the fact that you’ve already needed Lindsay’s help, I think it may be time now.”

With eyebrows drawn together, she tilted her head back to look him in the eye. “Could you ever see yourself moving here to live?”

He’d like to spare her feelings, but had to be honest. “No. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You have your life, and I wouldn’t try to drag you back here if you didn’t want it.”

“You know it’s not that I wouldn’t want to be with you.”

“I know, dear. But I hate that you never felt at home in Magnolia.”

Granny had tried so hard to make them happy, but neither he nor Drake had ever adjusted very well after they’d come to live with her. “Yeah. I’m sorry.”

“Excuse me,” Lindsay said from the doorway. “Dinner is ready.”

“We’ll be right there, dear. Can you stay?”

“I can’t today.” She looked at Bill. “I usually cook for my dad and brother’s family.”

“Gregory?”

“Yes. He and his two children live across the street from Dad.”

“What about Richard?” Bill suspected Lindsay’s other brother no longer lived in Magnolia.

“He manages a hotel in Atlanta.”

“I’m sorry to hear about Gregory’s divorce.”

She snapped a dish towel and folded it somewhat violently. “It was a bad scene. She deserted them all. For a rich lawyer in Atlanta.”

“That girl was trouble from the start,” Granny said.

“What she did to those babies is criminal,” Lindsay said, her face red in anger. “I’ll go put the bread in the oven.” She left the room quickly.

Granny sighed. “Lindsay suffered terrible migraines through the whole ordeal. But Hunter and Chase have suffered the most. Not to mention poor Gregory.”

“Maybe he’ll find the right woman next time.” But how could he be sure? How could anyone be sure? “Shall we go eat?” he asked Granny, holding out his arm for her.

“I’d love to, kind sir.” She winked at him, and his heart swelled. It would be so nice to have her live with him. He’d missed her.

As Granny Bea and Bill walked into the kitchen, Lindsay flinched, thinking he would hit his head on the door frame. Luckily, the older house had taller ceilings. And it seemed he ducked out of habit even if he didn’t need to.

“How tall are you now, anyway?” she asked before she thought about it.

“Six-foot-six-and-a-half.”

“You weren’t that tall in high school.”

“No. I grew a few inches in college, and put on about fifty pounds over the years.”

She didn’t doubt it. He had been way too skinny in high school. And now he was…well…just right.

Refusing to think about how handsome he was, she set about putting the food on the table. “Y’all have a seat.”

“May I help?” he offered.

“No, it’s all ready.” In her experience, anytime a man tried to help in the kitchen, it ended in disaster.

Once she had everything on the table, Granny Bea reached for her hand. “Stay for a few minutes, dear. Sit and talk with us.”

She never could turn Granny Bea down. “Okay. For a minute.” Before she could sit in the chair next to Granny Bea, Bill jumped up and pulled it out for her.

She hesitated, then laughed. “Sorry. Growing up with two brothers makes me a little nervous when my chair is pulled out for me.”

He nodded. “Ah, the old yank-the-chair-out-from-under-you trick. I had that happen to me in school many times.”

She was sorry she had brought it up when she noticed the haunted look on his face. Kids in Magnolia had been awful to him.

He nicely pushed her chair in for her. “Thank you.” A small, gentlemanly gesture, but very nice for a woman who never had time for dating anymore.

“Can you ladies help me make a list of the repairs that need to be made around here? When I came in, I noticed the roof is in bad shape.”

Lindsay knew his interest wasn’t because he cared about the condition of the house. He was already moving on with his plan to sell it. “Nothing’s urgent. Maybe you can get the roof done on this visit and save the rest for another time.”

“The carpet in the bedrooms is shot,” Granny Bea said. “I’ve even had Lindsay take me to look at some samples, but couldn’t decide what to do.”

Granny Bea didn’t get it. She thought he was interested in helping her. Helping move her out the door was more like it.

Bill looked from one of them to the other. “We’ll have to get right on it. I’ll make some calls tomorrow.”