Glenda gives her a pointed look. “I’m eighty years old, honey. I don’t even know what I ate for lunch.”
I laugh despite myself, and Glenda just winks at me.
“I’ll go ask the secretary,” Harper says. “I’ll be right back.”
She bolts to the front desk, and I stay there with Glenda, who’s still rocking in her chair.
“She’s driven, my granddaughter,” she finally says. “She never gives up.”
“Yeah.” I smile. “I like that about her. Something we have in common, actually.”
“Good. So you’re not going to leave her heartbroken, then?”
“That’s definitely not the plan. I’m more scared of it happening the other way around, if I’m being honest,” I say with a low chuckle.
“She has broken a few hearts, but it’s nothing compared to the pain she’s endured in the name of love.”
I press my lips together. “Yeah, she told me. But I’m nothing like those other guys.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “She told you, huh?” Then, she pauses, peering out the window. “Well, if that’s the case, she must really like you. She doesn’t open up to people easily. I may be protective of her, but I like the influence you have on her.”
I manage to contain the huge grin about to break free. “You do?”
“Well, I haven’t gone completely blind yet—except at night—and I see how much she’s changed since she met you. She smiles more, enjoys company, goes out, does things that people her age are doing. Before you, her days were pretty predictable. She would either be at work, at home, or with me. Now she goes out to dinner, gets drinks with friends, and even plans a weekend at the beach? That’s not the Harper I know. But I’m glad to see her changing. I was always afraid she’d end up like me.”
My chest tightens, and I stare at the tile floor, unsure what to say.
“Bitter and lonely. Reminiscing about the things I could have done. Orshouldhave done. Spending my days staring out the window, still holding on to grudges after all this time.”
“But it’s not too late,” I say tentatively. “Just because you’re older doesn’t mean your life is over. You can still turn things around.”
She looks up at me, a deep grimace etched into her face. Then it softens, and she gives me a small smile. “I see why my granddaughter likes you.”
I’m about to ask her what she means when footsteps clack on the floor, and Harper comes jogging back.
“Well,” she says, holding a piece of paper, “I got all the information I need to access your client portal. I’ll figure out what’s going on.”
“Thank you,” Glenda says. Her gaze fixes on the swaying trees for a beat, then focuses on Harper. “Is your offer to introduce me to your friend’s grandmother still standing?”
Harper blinks rapidly. “You want me to introduce you?”
“Did I stutter?” she snaps, and I hold back a laugh.
“Why?” Harper asks, bewildered.
She shrugs. “I guess I’m not dead yet.” Her eyes fall on me pointedly. “And it’s not too late to make some changes.”
Harper’s gaze flicks between Glenda and me, realization dawning. A smile builds on her lips. “Sure, Grandma. I’ll introduce you.”
Taking advantage of a brief intermission at the poker table, we walk toward Lois, Beth’s grandma. Harper and I briefly met her the other day when Beth and James were here.
Harper explains to her, in a low voice, that her grandma is a bit lonely and has a hard time making friends. Fifteen minutes later, Glenda is sitting at the poker table, wedged between Lois and a woman named Martha.
By the time we leave, Glenda is playing her first hand—and even laughing at a joke someone made.
“Wow.” Harper steals one more glance at her grandma before we head to the exit. “I never thought this would happen. Ever.”
I just smile.
