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But he doesn’t say it aloud, I notice, and I think that means he believes she really can do it—or, at least, he’s going topretendhe believes it.
Either way, I grin, forced to admit that he gets cooler by the minute, too.
*
Landon actually managed to wriggle out of the jinx by saying he was paying for Rae’s drink (which was Sprite and not Coke, but it counted). I didn’t have a way to get out of it myself, but it was still fun. I just mouthed things soundlessly, and the two of them took turns guessing what I was trying to say.
Once we’re leaving the restaurant, though, I have to break my silence. Although Landon would probably accept mimed thanks for the amazing pizza—including the Bavarian cream dessert one,yum—I need to ask him about my art idea.
I let Rae give her own thanks and goodbyes. Then I close her into the car and say to Landon, “Hey, there’s something I want to ask you.”
He tries to give me a look of astonishment, but he ends up laughing. “Liv with the rule-breaking! Must be an important question!”
I laugh a little, too. “Yeah, I’ve been waiting to ask it all night.”
“Really? Wow. Hit me with it.”
I clasp my hands together behind my back and glance over my shoulder at Rae. She’s yawning, not paying us any attention.
As I look at Landon again, I explain, “Earlier when we were talking about the Christmas crafts Rae did last year, I had this thought that maybe she could make something just for your grandma and take it to her. The nursing home folks really loved her and the other kids when they went, and I know you said your grandma isn’t doing great, but Rae—well, you know how she is. I think she could be a fun visitor. I haven’t asked her about this yet, of course, but I know she’d love to do it.ButI understand if a visit doesn’t sound like a good idea to you. In that case, she could make something and you could just take it for us.” I lift my shoulders. “Or maybe you don’t want her to make anything at all. Maybe you don’t like this idea at all. I don’t know.”
Judging by the look on his face, there was no need to say that last part. He looks shocked, but he also looks delighted. He definitely doesn’t think this sounds like a bad idea.
Indeed, he gives a straightforward, “Yes.”
“Yeah?” I ask. “You’re okay with…? Which part? All of it?”
He nods excitedly. “All of it. I’d love that, Liv—I’dloveyou guys to take something to her. You really want to?”
I nod, too, unable to keep from smiling at his reaction.
I briefly imagine him as a baby, green-eyed and already full of personality, being handed off to the woman in question even though her days of raising kids should’ve been over. And now he’s grown and struggling with what’s happening to her…. I remember how troubled he looked at the party when he told me about her, how visibly shaken he was just from thinking about her being hospitalized.
I remember touching him, too—touching his left arm, the music-note-tattooed arm.
But I only think about that for a second.
Then I blink it away and say, “Just tell us when you think a good time would be and we’ll go with you to see her. If it’s during the week, it’ll have to be an evening, but we could do any time on a weekend.”
“Okay, yeah, let’s see….” He thinks about it momentarily, and then he frowns. “Well, hey—I’m sorry, but I think it’d be better not to plan on a certain day since there’s no predicting her moods. If you’re okay with it, I think it’d be best for me to check on how she’s doing at whatever time and then have you guys come over if she’s not in a bad mood.” He looks at me apologetically. “I’m really sorry. I know that might get inconvenient.”
“No, it’s understandable,” I assure him. “I’ll just have Rae make something tomorrow and then hold on to it until the time is right.”
His look of apology turns into one of appreciation. “Thank you, Liv. Seriously.”
“Of course.” I acknowledge the potential awkwardness of my next words, but I say them anyway. “Do you need my phone number for getting ahold of me?”
He responds just how I need him to: with a harmless smile and an easy tone. “Honestly, yeah, I think it’d be good for me to have it. I wouldn’t want to bother you guys at home. And the handwritten notes are fun, but they’re not a very effective form of communication.”
In kind, I agree, “Unfortunately, no.”
I end up getting his number into my phone, too, just because. Then he says, “I’m about to go visit Lolly right now, actually. Think I should tell her about our plan?” He smiles a little sadly. “I mean, I don’t think she’d remember it later, but it might make her happy right now.”
I return his smile. “Sure. Tell her.” After a pause, I add, “And don’t forget what I said about talking to me about her.”
He points a finger-gun at me. “No way have I forgotten. Thank you again for that.”
“Mmhmm. Thank you very much for dinner. We had fun and it really was delicious.”
