I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s so damn beautiful with the way the sun is highlighting her hair. “Where is everyone? It’s dead around here.”
He chuckles again. “They’re working on a project for Jackson.”
Finally, I rip my gaze away from Jenny to look at him. “Oh. What’s that?”
“You’ll see.”
Suddenly, there is a clattering in the kitchen, and my daughter-in-law slides the glass door open. “You should see how much stuff we got,” she says, jumping on her toes.
Ray stands, nodding his head for me to follow. I walk into the kitchen, which was just empty a minute ago, to find my brothers carrying in baskets and baskets of produce. Lily steps in front of me with an arm full of flowers.
“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, mister,” she says, setting them on the table and placing her hands on her hips. “Don’t be running off with my best friend like that. You have to share her, you know?”
Jesse winks at me as she passes us, carrying a box filled with canning jars. “Someone’s looking awfully smiley today,” she teases.
Dirk follows her, carrying a basket full of tomatoes.
“What the hell is going on?”
Ray places his hand on my shoulder. “The women got together last night and decided they should go and salvage anything from Jenny’s they could.”
Jenny and Maggie step in behind us. Her gaze instantly seeks mine. It’s like she doesn’t see anyone else in the room. A shy smile lights her face, and her cheeks turn pink.
“Nana,” Aspen squeals, running to her with a little basket of her own.
Jenny drops to her knees. “Oh, what have you found this time?” she asks her. When she peeks in the basket, her brows pull together in confusion. Her head lifts, and she finally notices what is going on around us. Her hand flies to her mouth.
“I brought the fairies here,” Aspen says, showing her all of the little trinkets she’s gathered from Jenny’s yard.
Willow fans her face, exchanging a glance with Maggie.
Jenny pulls Aspen into her arms and stands. “You all did this for me?” Her gaze scans over the produce. “That was so much work,” she says, tears pooling in her eyes.
“Many hands make light work,” Maggie says, giving her daughter a side hug. She claps her hands. “Okay, everyone. We have a lot to do.”
I walk over and wrap my arm around her shoulders. “I’ll go up and get your apron.”
She nods, tears falling from her lashes.
When I get back downstairs, everyone is working away. Jenny included. I help tie the apron around her waist, ignoring the looks from the club.
Aspen is sitting on the counter, snapping green beans. “Nana and Papa sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g,” she sings.
Willow rushes toward her to silence her, but it’s too late. Elijah gets to her first. “Oh girl, you’ve got the tea. Spill it.”
Aspen giggles at him. “I don’t have tea, Jaja,” she tells him, holding up a green bean.
Everyone laughs at the two of them. She has yet to master how to say his name, or maybe that’s just the way she likes to say it.
Jackson wags a finger at Kelsie. “You’ve got to quit teaching my kid that shit. You know you’re going to have one of your own someday. Like Grandma always says, what goes around comes around.”
Kelsie waves him off. “Yeah, yeah.”
“Did you see them kissing?” Elijah continues to interrogate my granddaughter, ignoring the rest of us. It earns him a smack in the stomach from his wife.
Aspen nods, tapping a finger over each of her eyelids. “I saw Papa kiss Nana with my own eyes,” she says confidently.
“How about we go and get those fairies you’ve been jabbering on about set up outside,” I tell her, snatching her from the counter. But before we step outside, I stop on the threshold, turning to face everyone. “I’m going to be moving out of my room later today,” I say.
