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I sighed. “Or you might end up like this. Older than the town and still trying to work.”
My grandma ignored me, so I grasped her hands. “Come on. I’ll clean it. Your arthritis is bothering you today, isn’t it?”
“Leave me be. I got it handled.” She tried shooing me away.
“How about you go take a break?”
“How about ya mind your business? The day has barely started, and you’re telling me to take a break.”
“I worry about my business,” I fibbed, going along with her. “You’re the only one that can cook my recipes as well as I can.” I’d rather Grandma not help at all, but it was impossible to win an argument against her. She wouldn’t listen, so I had to choose my battles with her carefully.
Randall hollered, “Hey!”
“I taught ya those recipes,” Grandma Sue muttered as she stood. “Listen at ya, trying to take credit.”
I grinned as the old woman grabbed the broom.
“The day I stop doing anything, is the day I die. A body ain’t good for nothing if ya ain’t moving, remember that Hudson, or I’ll outlive ya like I have two husbands.”
“Yes, yes,” I agreed and took the broom from her. “You taught me everything I know. Now go stir your potato soup before you burn it.”
The beginnings of a smile crept up over her wrinkled face, so I continued to beam at her until she swatted my shoulder. “I better. Leave everything to Randall, and your shop will go downhill before it’s even been open for two years.”
“You two,” Randall began with a huff. “I can hear, ya know.”
“Hmm. He can hear better than he can cook.” Grandma Sue shrugged before trotting over to the stove.
“Hellooo,” Georgiana dinged the bell three times as she spoke. “What’s going on? Where are the orders?” As she said it, she clipped another order to the board. “We’re getting busy.” When she finally noticed me scowling, she did a double-take, her eyes widening. “Oh, boss. I didn’t know you were back there.”
“Don’t hit the bell more than once,” I said. “How many times do I have to tell you that?”
She smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. Don’t be mad. I thought Randall was slacking with you gone.”
I narrowed my eyes. “When was I supposed to be gone?”
She cringed. “I don’t know.” She slipped away from the window.
“Such a pretty little thing, and ya talk to her like that.” Grandma clucked her tongue. “How am I ever going to get any grandbabies from ya if you talk down to everyone?”
I shook my head. “You already have ten grandchildren. How could you want more?”
“That doesn’t matter. Ya haven’t given me any. A nana canneverhave too many.”
I snorted. “Yeah. Not going to happen.”
She threw a towel at me from across the kitchen.
For an eighty-year-old, she could be quick when she wanted to be.
THREE
Eugene
“What do you think?” Holly lifted my red curls as I stared into the mirror.
“How do you make me look so awesome?” I asked, turning my head side to side.
“It’s the red,” she said. “It’s your color.”
