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Brynnie eyed the few boxes that were stacked in the corner. “I’ve got an idea. I’ll help you load these into the Jeep, and you can take them over to the new place.”
“Even though Tiffany and J.D. moved out the other day, I think they still have some things they want to do to the place before I call it home,” Katie said, though her half sister had told her that the house was just about ready and had encouraged her to start moving. “Besides, I can’t leave Josh now.”
“Of course you can.” Her mother wasn’t swayed. “Do you really think it makes any difference to him if you’re here or a few blocks across town?”
“But if he wants to talk—”
“He can wait. Besides, I’m here. I know the scoop.”
“It’s my job.”
“I’m his grandmother, and I’ve dealt with this kind of thing a lot.” Brynnie managed a smile as she popped her gum. “Besides, I kind of owe you one, don’t I?”
“Why?”
“For letting you think that Hal Kinkaid was your father.” Two spots of color appeared on her cheeks. “I, uh, should apologize to you for that little fib.”
“I think it was more than a ‘little fib,’ but it doesn’t matter right now. It’s water under the bridge,” Katie said, waving off her mother’s concerns.
“You didn’t think so at the time.”
Katie managed a half smile. “Well, come on, Mom, you have to admit that of all your husbands, Hal was the least… ‘memorable,’ for lack of a better word.”
“You mean boring.”
“That, too.” Katie rubbed her arms at the thought of her surly, overbearing namesake. He was a steady worker but found absolutely no joy in life. “I never knew what you saw in him.”
“Neither do I. Not now.” Brynnie motioned to the boxes. “Go on, Katie, take these over to the house. Give me a couple of hours alone with my grandson.”
Katie hesitated. “If you think it’ll work.”
With a wink, Brynnie slowly nodded her head. “Guaranteed.”
“Okay, okay.” Katie walked down the hall to Josh’s room and rapped on the door with her knuckles. Her mother was just a step behind. “Bud?” Katie called through the panels.
“Go ‘way!”
So Josh was still in his foul mood. Despite his order, Katie opened the door a crack. “No reason to be rude.”
He didn’t look her way, but she could read the I-don’t-want-to-talk-to-you expression on his face.
“I’m gonna run some boxes over to the new place, but Grandma’s here, okay?”
“I can stay by myself.”
“Not while I’m anywhere in the vicinity,” Brynnie said. “I never give up a chance to play darts or Hearts or Scrabble with my favorite grandson.”
“I’m your only grandson,” he grumbled, but a dimple creased one cheek—a dimple Katie hadn’t seen since she’d told him about his father.
“Then that makes you extra special, doesn’t it?” Brynnie edged into the room and looked over her shoulder. “Go on,” she mouthed to Katie as she took a seat on the foot of the bed. “Now, kiddo, what’ll the bet be?”
“I dunno.”
“I know. If I win, you’ll come over and mow my lawn, but if you win, I’ll take you and a friend over to the water park next weekend.”
“Really?” Josh sent his mother a glance that said he knew he was being conned.
“Of course.” Brynnie looked up, caught Katie standing at the crack in the doorway and gave her a curt little wave.
