A moment passed before Tina said, “If I give you the information, donotpass it along to anyone else.”
“I won’t.”
“If you do, I’ll find you and make you regret it.”
He laughed. “I don’t doubt it.”
Tina wrote down an address on a small piece of paper and slid it to him. But before he could grab it, she said, “Andrew, take care of her. She doesn’t realize it right now, but she needs you.”
Andrew swallowed past the hard lump in his throat. “I won’t let you down.”
“Never mind me. Don’t letherdown.”
Nodding, he said, “I won’t.” Andrew meant every word. Now he just had to make sure Paige knew it. “But can you do me a favor?”
Tina eyed him skeptically. “What is it?”
“Don’t tell her I’m coming.”
Chapter Four
“Boy, when did you get here?” Andrew’s mother dropped her garden hose and grinned from ear to ear as she approached him.
Coming to Michigan andnotseeing Connie Weathers would have resulted in a long lecture about visiting more often, letting her know what’s going on in his life, and not bringing her any grandchildren to love on. Because, yes, she’d found a way to slide that in during every conversation.
He’d flown into the Detroit Metro Airport, instead of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids. And had planned to hit the road in a few hours.
“Hey, Mama.” Andrew embraced his mother and placed a kiss to her cheek.
“You’re full of surprises!” She took off her work gloves and patted his face. “I just talked to you.”
He couldn’t help but smile at his mother’s enthusiasm. “I have business in Michigan and figured I’d visit my favorite girl.”
Connie smiled, her eyes filling with the tears she always shed when she saw him or his brothers. “Well, I guess I’m pretty lucky then.”
“I’m the lucky one.” He winked at his mama. Time had been good to her, but he noticed a few more gray hairs and worry lines than had been there the last time he’d seen her. “How are you, Mama?” He hadn’t missed the slight limp she’d tried to conceal when she’d walked toward him.
“Oh, I’m doing alright.” She stretched a little. “Aching in new places.”
He frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, boy, I’m good. Just tired.”
“Hm.” Andrew studied her. “Are you still working midnights?”
She waved a dismissive hand his way. “No, boy. I started back on days.” Connie shuffled toward the colonial-style house he’d grown up in, talking the entire way about her lawn and the flowers she wanted to plant next year.
On his way to the house, he called to Mrs. Fulton, who was sitting on her porch knitting.
The elderly woman stood, hands on her hips. “Is that you, Drew?”
He stopped to talk to the former elementary school teacher. “Yes, it is, ma’am.”
“Good to see you, boy. About time you came to see about your mama. She’s too busy for her own damn good. I keep telling her to sit her tail down somewhere.”
He chuckled. “I keep telling her the same thing. How are you?”
“I’m fair to middling,” Mrs. Fulton said. “I’d be even better if someone could take a look at my thermostat. I think I messed around and pushed a wrong button or something.”
