“Told you.”
“What if it didn’t work?”
“Didit work?” she asked, lifting a questioning brow. “I saw you two at the barbecue, sharing a plate of food like you did when you were teenagers. Then we watched you disappear last night, before the fireworks.”
I eyed her. “But then Ms. Tea posted that information about me.” The only people that knew about my poor credit were Kay, Bri, and Grandma. Since I’d ruled out Kay and Bri in the very beginning … “I wasn’t sure you were involved until that moment.”
“You suspected Joyce all along?”
“Pretty early in the investigation. I just couldn’t figure out why.”
“I’ll let her explain her reasons, but they’re not that different from mine. She loves Wes so much and wants the best for him.” She brushed her thumb over my cheek. “And that’s you.”
“Being here, spending time with him … As much as it frightened me, it also cemented the importance of our longstanding friendship. I missed my friend. And once I realized that, all the pieces fell into place.”
“Does this mean you’re going to try again?”
Last night, we’d promised to try, to take things slow. But I didn’t need to try. I was already there. “I don’t need to try to love him. I already do. I never stopped.”
Grandma embraced me. “That’s what I wanted to hear.” She shuffled to the stove and put on a pot of water. “It doesn’t happen all the time, but sometimes you really can find true love at an early age. You and Wes were circling each other before you knew his penis could fit in your—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” I cracked up.
“Too much?”
“Always.”
“I can only be me.” Her shoulders fell. “I have something to tell you.”
Concerned, I walked over to her. “What’s wrong? Is it your hip?”
“Girl, I’m fine. I’m going to marry Ace.”
I gaped at her. “What?”
“Yeah, he’s pretty traditional. And I’m not. But I actually wouldn’t mind being his wife.”
“Wow. I’m shocked.”
“Me, too.” She beamed. “I knew he was the one whenhebrought the prenup over for me to review. He doesn’t want my money. He just wants me.”
It warmed my heart to see my grandmother so happy and in love. “I love that for you.”
The teakettle whistled, and she poured the hot water into two mugs. “Green tea with honey and ginger, or Earl Grey?”
“Honey ginger,” I replied.
We settled at the table again, sipping our tea as we made small talk about the barbecue. Apparently, two of the grandmothers got into a fight over Hendrix. It was so bad they almost went to blows on the lawn. Until someone’s nana breezed over and pushed one of them into the pool.
Grandma laughed. “I couldn’t believe it. And believe me, Hendrix didn’t want either one of those homely thangs.”
I snorted. “Grandma! That’s not nice.”
“When have I ever been nice?”
“What did Granny Joyce say?” I asked.
“Joyce told both of them heffas off, then kicked them out of the group.” She snickered. “About time. They were messy anyway. The only reason they were there was because someone else invited them.”
