AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She took the box from me as I spun around to have Mimi’s eyes right on me. “Emily, he brought me flowers. Isn’t that sweet of him?”
“Very.” Emily nodded, opening up the takeout box. “He’s just full of surprises, but no fork.”
I laughed and reached behind me. “That’s where you’re wrong.” I pulled out the plastic fork from the restaurant and held it for her to grab.
She quickly peeled off the plastic wrap and smiled. “Hmm. You think of everything.”
“So, how long have you two been friends?” Mimi questioned, eyeing her granddaughter.
Emily forked in a mouthful of pasta and left me to answer. “About a year, almost as long as they’ve been dating.” I pointed at my cousin.
She nodded. “Why aren’t you two an item?”
“She’s just not that into me,” I teased, and Emily nearly choked on her linguini.
I patted her back, and she nodded, swallowing. “He’s not the settling-down type, Mimi.”
“Is that so?” Mimi chuckled, sounding almost melodic. She looked a little dopey, so I was pretty sure it was the drugs pumping through her for pain. “Maybe he hasn’t met the right woman yet.”
I laughed, rocking back on my heels. “Or I might have, and she’s just not interested.”
Mimi looked perplexed, nestled her head back on the pillow, and was out like a light.
“The nurse just loaded her up again,” Emily explained. “She did a mini-nap right before you got here, woke up, drank a latte, and bam.”
“So, what’s the prognosis?” I asked. “Did the surgery go well?”
“Funny you should ask,” Emily’s mom said, laughing. “We just had someone from PT come and talk to us while Emily was getting some chips.”
“Yeah?” Emily asked, surprised.
“And they have a therapist on Marigold Island who can work with her.” Her mom glanced at her grandpa.
“She’s not going to be happy about living at your house, Mom.” Emily grimaced, glancing at Mae and Amelia. “And your bathrooms with a shower are on the second level.”
“That’s true,” her grandpa agreed.
“I have a spare bedroom. My bungalow would be perfect. How long is it for?” Emily asked, glancing at her grandparents, even though one was out like a light. “Mom would drive Mimi nuts with all of her rules, and I don’t have any, so…”
Her grandpa chuckled. “That might make it hurt less, for sure. Mimi hates rules.”
She nodded in agreement. “Me too. So, it’s settled. Mimi and Grandpa will stay at my house for the next six weeks, give or take.”
“Are you sure, sweetie? Mimi can be a bit of a handful.” My mom bit her bottom lip and eyed Mae and Amelia. “Would you girls chip in if she needed help?”
“Of course, Mom.” Mae nodded.
“I can help too,” I offered. “It’s not like my schedule is packed lately.”
Emily smiled, her eyes connecting with mine briefly before she nodded. “I’ve noticed that, but on this note, I should get out of here so I can start organizing a place for them in the spare room.”
“I can take you back,” I offered.
“You don’t live on Marigold.” She shook her head. “I’ll just…”
Mimi’s eyes popped open. “Just let the man give you a ride, Emily.”
Chapter Seven
