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The fact that he’s on speaker makes it so much worse. I hide around the corner, shaking with silent laughter.
“It’s your grandpa.”
Koen chuckles. “I know. What’s up?”
“What did you say about Scottie? You know, the girl from the general store.”
“Uh … what do you mean?”
“You used a word to describe her, but I can’t remember. It wasn’t unethical. But it started with a U-N. My brain’s not working right today.”
“Grandpa, what do you need to know this for?”
“I’m visiting with Scottie, and I was telling her what you said, but I couldn’t remember.”
“You’re …” Koen clears his throat. “You’re at the store?”
“That’s what I said.”
“You didn’t tell her I said she’s unethical, did you?”
“I took the word for a test drive. But as soon as it came out, I told her that wasn’t the right word. That’s why I’m calling you.”
“Oh, Grandpa.”
I can feel Koen deflating on the other end of that call while I shake with silent laughter, trying to keep from crying.
“Unusual isn’t the right word either,” Herb says.
“Unexpected,” Koen replies quickly—desperately. “I said she’s unexpected in a really great way. But I’m not thrilled that you’re sharing what I told you in confidence.”
“Oh, my boy, if I don’t tell the girl, she’ll never know because you’ll never say it.”
The boy. The girl.
“Can you just get your groceries and go home? Leave the conversation to me. I’m not as inept as you think.”
The door chimes with another customer. “Good morning,” the young mother with a baby wrapped to her chest says before kissing the little one’s head. I feel a pang of envy.
“Am I on speaker?” Koen asks.
“Yeah. It’s too loud at my ear with my hearing aids.”
“Jesus. I gotta go. Bye.”
Herb picks out his produce and pushes the cart to the counter. “Unexpected. That’s what he called you. He said you were unexpected in a really great way.”
Biting back my grin, I nod. “That was very kind of him. The feeling is mutual.”
“I knew you two would hit it off. Aren’t you glad I set you up on a date?”
I am, even though our date isn’t until Friday. “You’re a good man, Herb.”
By the timeFriday rolls around, I’m a mess of anticipation. Koen ended up staying out of town longer than expected, so I haven’t seen him in over a week.
“Are you sure you don’t have any more questions?” I ask Price for the third time.
He grins with a headshake, making flavored sodas for a guy and his two kids. “It’s my fourth day. I’m sure.”
