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“Well, that may be. But I love my father’sbride-to-be. No ambivalence here.”
He held up his hands. “Sorry. My mistake. Do you want to take this with you?”
“No. The wedding is tomorrow and we have nowhere to put it until then. Also, Betty said you could deliver it to the reception.”
He nodded. “Sure. I can do that.”
“Thank you. The information should be in the paperwork. I’ll pay you for it now, though.”
He went to the cash register and dug through a stack of invoices. “Here we go, O’Connell.” He set it on the counter next to the cake, and Sage handed him a credit card.
He picked it up and read the name, then looked at her. “You don’t look like Jacob O’Connell.”
“It’s my grandfather’s card. I assure you I didn’t steal it out of his wallet.”
Xander grinned. “Never thought you did.” He ran the card, then handed it back to her with the receipt to sign.
“Just sign your name right there, Jacob.”
She signed the receipt, then pushed it toward him.
“Thank you for your business, Miss O’Connell.”
“You’re welcome. The cake is lovely.”
“I’ll make sure it gets safely to the reception tomorrow.”
“I’d appreciate it.” She backed up a few steps, then nodded and tried to push the door openagainst the wind. Xander was suddenly behind her, and he shoved the door open for her. She went out into the wind and he pulled it closed, then gave her a wave.
Sage came in through the mud room and hung her coat on the big rack hanging on the wall next to the door. When she went into the kitchen, she found Jacob standing in front of the coffeemaker.
“Granddad, what are you doing?”
“Making coffee. What’s it look like I’m doing?”
She came up beside him. “Let me help you.”
“I’m capable of making a damn pot of coffee, child.”
She put a hand on his back. “I know. Just please, sit. Let me finish it for you.”
He moved to the table and sat with a groan. He pumped his right fist. “I’ve got most of my feeling back in this arm. Ember has fixed me right up.”
“Yeah. She’s great.” She put a cup of coffee in front of him.
“Pour yourself a cup and sit down here, Little Sis.”
She filled a cup for herself and sat down. Granddad always knew when something was on her mind.
He studied her for a moment. “Your father deserves to be happy.”
“Of course he does. I’m really happy for him.”
Jacob cocked his head. “I don’t quite believe you. Will you listen to your old granddad ramble on about the past for a minute?”
“Of course.” She took a sip of coffee.
“I was twenty-three when my wife left me with two one-year-olds. I don’t call her your grandmother. Or your father’s mother. She doesn’t deserve the title. Anyway. I spent the next seventeen years getting them raised and through school. Trying my best to make them decent, God fearing adults.”
