“Well, the thing is, Grandpa, I didn’t want to have to say this or bring it up—especially since you like her so much…” I pause, tapping my fingers against my leg as I try to figure out how to phrase this in a way that won’t give him a shock.
He’s looking at me intensely as he leans forward.
“Magnolia and I had a?—”
He cuts in with a loud cough. He pats a hand against his chest as the coughing fit takes over. I reach out and rest a hand against his back, but I’m too scared to pat him because he seems so frail.
“I’m all right,” he says. He looks up at me with droopy eyelids. “I think maybe I just overdid it today. Coming down here and listening to these two fools arguing.”
We both look at Kevin and the lawyer, who are still going at it and don’t even seem aware that we’re in the same room. Judith is scrolling on her phone, looking perfectly happy not to be included in either conversation.
“I’ll help you upstairs,” I tell him and offer my arm.
He stands, grasping it, but if I don’t tell him the truth now, he’ll probably demand to see Magnolia later.
“Well, the truth is, Grandpa, Magnolia and I are not?—”
He interrupts me again. “It’s all right that she couldn’t be here this morning. I understand she has things going on.”
“That’s not what I was going to say.”
I should just blurt it out, I think to myself.Magnolia and I are not?—
The front door swings open, and Magnolia strides inside. I didnotexpect her to show up. Not after I said something about us being done with this lie. She doesn’t deserve this level of stress in her life.
She heads straight for Grandpa, ignoring me, and reaches for him with both hands. The man stands up straighter, his eyes snapping open.
“It’s so good to see you,” he says.
She leans over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “It’s so good to see you down here in the living room. I’m so happy you’re feeling better.”
As she holds on to his shoulders, he does not look like a man who just had a coughing fit that deprived him of oxygen. Now, he looks like a man ready to go dancing with Magnolia. He grabs her hand and tucks it under his arm.
“I was just telling Nash that I was missing you, so I’m sure glad you’re here this afternoon. Now,” he says, turning to look at me, “what was that you were trying to tell me about Magnolia?”
I glare at Magnolia. I thought I’d made it clear last night that the ruse is done. I want to ask her why she’s here, but I can’t say that part out loud with Grandpa right there.
“I’m not sure what she’s doing here,” I grind out.
Magnolia gives me a silly face behind Alexander’s head.
Grandpa passes her hand to me. “You two follow me in here. We’ll go have a chat where no one’s arguing.”
He shuffles away, toward the kitchen—rather spry, not like the man who was leaning on my arm moments before.Magnolia’s hand is tucked under my arm, and I hang on to her wrist, not letting her pull it back.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” I whisper furiously.
She looks up at me with wide, innocent eyes. “Whatever do you mean, dear sweet fiancé?”
“We agreed last night that I would break things off for Grandpa. Why are you here?”
“What are you talking about?” she demands.
“When I tucked you into bed, I told you not to worry about this mess,” I remind her.
She scowls at me. “I was supposed to assume you were ending our engagement from those few words?”
“I thought those words were plenty!” I exclaim.
