His Forever Love

“I’ll find Granny,” he said as he rushed back in the door. He called for her over and over, but no answer. She was nowhere in the house.

He found Lindsay holding her nose as she stared into the pan. “I think it was green beans.”

“The stove was set on high. She must have put them on to cook quickly, then left them. She’s not in the house.”

“I’m sure she walked over to Sandra’s.”

He wouldn’t quit worrying until he actually saw her. “I’ll be back. Can you see if you can figure out what I did with the food from Minnie’s? I have no idea where I put it down.”

She grinned. “It might be up on the roof.”

He grinned in return. “Maybe we can have green beans for lunch, then.”

She burst out laughing. “I’ll find it. Go check on Granny Bea.”

He paused for a moment. He couldn’t resist smiling. She looked so young, like she had when he’d been so crazy about her. She was the first to break the connection as she turned to go back inside.

He walked next door to Sandra’s back entrance. The tight clench in his jaw eased when he heard Granny’s voice through the screen door. She was fine.

He knocked. “Hi, ladies.”

“Oh, come in, Bill,” Sandra said as she jumped out of her chair and hurried over to greet him. She gave him a fierce hug. “I’m so glad you’re home to see your granny. And staying for a few days no less.”

“Hi, Miss Sandra. It’s good to be here.”

“Come join us, son,” Granny said from the far side of the kitchen table.

“I can’t stay. Granny, we just got home and found your pot of beans burning.”

“Oh, no.” She tried to get up from the low-sitting chair.

He grasped her arm and helped pull her up. “It’s okay. We took the pan outside and Lindsay sprayed water on it.”

“Did it damage my kitchen?”

“Once it airs out, it’ll be fine.”

“Oh, dear. Let’s go see.”

They said goodbye to Sandra and walked back to Granny’s house. Lindsay stood on the back porch with the meals from Minnie’s set out on the picnic table. Hers included.

“You found it?” he asked.

“Yes, slung to the side of the front door. It sloshed around a bit, but it’s still edible.” She gestured to the table with a smirk on her face.

Too bad he couldn’t enjoy the meal with her. Unfortunately, Granny’s food fiasco only strengthened his resolve that she needed to live with him to be safe.

They ate a nice meal, but beneath the pleasant chatter lay what he knew they needed to discuss. When they had a lull in the conversation, he said, “Granny, we need to talk about the kitchen incident.”

“It was a simple mistake,” Lindsay said. “An accident that could happen to anyone.”

He wanted to ask her if she’d ever left something cooking on high then walked next door, but it would be hurtful to Granny. “I know accidents happen, but this could have turned out tragically. What if Granny had gone to take a nap? What if we hadn’t arrived when we did?”

“It’s the first time it’s ever happened,” Granny said. “I am more forgetful these days, but I’m not usually that bad. I put the beans on and wouldn’t have forgotten, but Sandra called and needed two eggs for a recipe.”

“And I bet you got sidetracked talking,” Lindsay said. “Could happen to anyone.”

“Yes. It won’t happen again. I promise I’ll turn burners off before leaving the house again.”

He wouldn’t push, but he would go ahead and make a call to the adult day-care center near the university. He hated to move Granny against her wishes. But maybe she’d come around soon.

“I see your brain working,” Lindsay said. She speared him with an intense look. “Don’t make any rash decisions. You’ll see that she’s fine here in Magnolia.”

He wouldn’t accomplish anything with Lindsay interfering. She would only keep Granny stirred up. “Lindsay, this is between Granny and me. I think maybe you need to leave.”

She jerked back as if he’d slapped her. Then hurt flashed across her face. “Oh. Well.” She stood and jerkily put her lunch trash in the bag. She smiled at Granny, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Lindsay…” He didn’t know what to say.

Granny patted her hand. “He didn’t mean it, dear. Sit back down.”

“No. I should go. I—” Her voice wobbled. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at church, Granny Bea.” She hurried into the house.

He’d hurt her. He hadn’t wanted to, but it was his responsibility to protect Granny.

No matter what it took.

Lindsay made it to the front of the house, seeking refuge in her car. She was determined not to cry until she closed herself inside.

Her car wasn’t there. What on earth?

It’s at Donna Rae’s house. Bill had picked her up.

She would have to walk to Dad’s, then have him drive her to Donna Rae’s.

How could Bill have asked her to leave? How dare he imply that she didn’t know what was good for Granny Bea?

She stormed out of the driveway, walking toward her dad’s house. She was too angry to face Bill at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.

Tomorrow. Sunday. Church. Oh, brother. Bill would probably show up there and she would have to face him in front of everyone in her family.

She would have to prepare so she wouldn’t spout off something she’d regret. And she’d also have to come up with a new plan. Apparently, showing him Granny in action wasn’t going to work.

Chapter Four

The next morning, Bill sat on the front porch swing with a cup of coffee, enjoying the cool, fresh air. His legs were so long, it was nearly impossible to actually swing, so he simply pushed back and forth with his feet flat on the ground.

He set the cup aside to send a text message to one of his graduate assistants. Granny had actually fallen at an opportune time as far as classes went. The students had a weeklong reading period before finals. His assistants could field any questions from them. But the research was another thing. They were at a pretty critical point, and he needed to be there.