Page 21

“Could it be base jumping?” I asked.

“Maybe. You’ll have to ask Theresa. She doesn’t come over until after her classes, about two o’clock. She helps to clean up and do prep work for the next day.”

“Okay.” I grinned. Seemed like I had a lot in common with my brother. I needed to get in touch with this Bernie Faulkes character to see if he could arrange for me to FaceTime with Beau. I was anxious to see my old house, too. Maybe it would spark some memories.

“Besides joining the Marines, renting his house, and base jumping, do you know anything else? Has he ever married? Does he have a girlfriend? Kids?”

“I’m sorry, son. I don’t know anything like that. It’s best that you talk to Bernie. Let me have someone give you⁠—”

“Order up!”

Four plates were put in front of me. One had waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. One had French toast with a side of something. Another had a stack of at least five pancakes. The main plate had biscuits and gravy, some eggs with cheese, peppers, and tomatoes. There were grits and home fries. If I had come off a mission, I could do justice to this breakfast, but coming out of the hospital, I just couldn’t.

“I’ll be right back with your tea and biscuit, Little Grandma,” Lettie said in a loving voice.

“Don’t forget Brady’s cinnamon roll.”

“I wanted to get him a fresh one. Mom’s icing it right now.”

“Good thinking.” Little Grandma smiled.

My stomach growled. Well, maybe I might be able to put a dent in the food. Not the waffles, though. All the whipped cream just seemed too much like dessert for breakfast, but I’d make an exception for the cinnamon roll.

Because.

Well.

Cinnamon roll.

I started to dig in, thinking about what I wanted to do besides contacting Bernie. Then it came to me. I wanted to see the porch that was always in my dreams. The porch where there had been a red swing.

“I have Beau’s address in my navigation system. I can just drive by after breakfast.” I said after I had swallowed a big forkful of liberally buttered grits.

“Do those actually work?” Little Grandma frowned. “In case they don’t, take First Street out of the town square. After the railroad tracks, you’ll start hitting the tree streets. Dogwood is after Maple. If you’ve made it to Ash, you’ve gone too far.”

She poured a little bit of milk into her tea and stirred. Then took a tiny sip and smiled. She nodded at my plate of pancakes. “You better start in on them before they get cold. Nothing worse than cold pancakes.”

“Yes’m.”

I continued to eat my food.

“Lettie?” Little Grandma called out.

Lettie hustled over and smiled. “Is everything okay?”

I nodded because my mouth was full.

Little Grandma spoke. “Everything is fine. Why don’t you call Sherray in to cover your shift? Brady here wants to look at his old family home. You live on Dogwood, you could guide him to the old Beaumont place.”

“I was just talking to the gal who rented the house. I’d be glad to take you. Let me get Sherray in here to cover my shift, then you can follow me.” She looked down at the table. “I’ll also get you another cup of coffee.”

I nodded because my mouth was full again.

Seriously, did they add crack to this food?

Little Grandma didn’t say anything while I continued to eat. She looked out the window and occasionally smiled and dipped her head at someone who passed by, but mostly she just sat there, contentedly sipping her tea and nibbling on her biscuit. After I finished all of my French toast, three of my pancakes, and almost everything on my main plate, I looked up at her and shook my head. “I can’t believe I ate that much.”

“Where are you staying?”