AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Drop it, Helen.” Genevieve’s gaze shifted toward Noah Tannehill’s home. “I do wish Willow would hurry along,however. We are wasting time, and that is a crime.” Genevieve looked at her sister and smiled. “Thank you.” She hugged Helen hard and repeated, “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” Then, following a moment’s pause, she added, “Um, what for?”
“Because you’re right. As usual.”
“That’s true, although exactly what am I right about in this case?”
“I need a plan, some organization. I need to guide the snowball downhill. I need to find a balance between Mom and Nana and Genevieve.”
“Hear! Hear!”
“It will have to wait until after the wedding, though. As much as I’d love to go on the South Pacific trip, I just can’t. When my kids need help—truly need it—I’m going to help. It’s in my DNA. Willow needs help until after the wedding. I cannot switch granny gears until after the I dos are done.”
“Granny gears? Genevieve, please, no! You can’t stand the wordgranny.”
“But I like the alliteration. So sue me.”
“Do not ask me to use that word. I’ll call you Vivie, but I’m not touchinggranny. After all, I’m six years older than you are.”
Genevieve laughed as Emma came running toward them, her cheeks red with cold and her eyes shining. Drew followed on his sister’s heels. Both children were dusted with snow. Genevieve’s heart swelled with joy. She went down on one knee, heedless of the snow and the twinge of pain the movement caused her knees, and opened her arms.
Her grandchildren ran to her for a hug. Drew was safe and in her arms. Emma was safe, in her arms, and babbling about a lopsided snowman.
Willow approached from the direction of the house, a bemused expression on her face. And beside Genevieve, always beside her, Helen stood ready to help.
Genevieve met her daughter’s and sister’s gazes, thought about New Year’s Eve, and said, “Muffle.”
“Excuse me?” Willow asked as Helen snorted.
“My guiding word. I haven’t been paying attention to it, but that will change.”
Helen folded her arms and spoke in a false snippy tone. “You intend to muffle my advice?”
“Did I say that? I didn’t say that.”
Willow gestured toward her SUV. “Can you two continue this argument while I drive? I’m already late for my meeting with the caterer.”
“Excellent idea.” Helen turned and spoke to the children. “Drew, get into the car. Emma, come here, sweets. Let me buckle you in.”
Genevieve climbed into the backseat and sat between her grandchildren. Once Helen settled into the front passenger seat, Genevieve leaned forward and placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “I’m not muffling your advice, Helen. It’s the noise. It’s always about the noise. You know what noise does to snow, don’t you?”
“Hon, I haven’t a clue.”
“Avalanche.”
Willow glanced at her aunt as she started the car. “What is she talking about?”
“It’s beyond me. Maybe we really should run by the ER. Perhaps she’s had a TIA.”
“No, I haven’t had a stroke. I’m muffling. I’m searching for that balance you’ve convinced me I need in the quiet. I can’t stop the melt, but I can control the roll.”
Helen glanced at Willow. “Your mother is a snowball.”
“That’s silly, Nana,” Emma declared.
“Sometimes a little silly is exactly what a nana needs.” Genevieve sat back in her seat, determined to enjoy the drive. Enjoy the afternoon and evening and tomorrow and the day after that. She would enjoy her role as the mother of the groom six weeks from now.
She could do this. Shewoulddo this.
