Page 89 of Never and Always
Hazel Ellis was tiny, but had the same high cheekbones as her daughter and granddaughter. Her hair was pure white and cut short around her wizened face.
“Of course I came, Gram. You had me worried.”
Piper leaned over the bed and carefully hugged her grandmother.
“I’m fine,” the older woman insisted.
Piper straightened. “You scared us. I…” Her voice turned watery.
“Oh, darling girl, you worry too much.” She lifted her wrinkled hand and patted Piper’s face. “I do love you.”
“I love you too, Gram.”
“Such a good girl.”
I shifted, and all three women turned their heads to look at me. They all had the same blue eyes.
Both her mother’s and grandmother’s eyes went wide.
“Oh my,” Penelope murmured.
“Now, who is this.” Hazel sat a little straighter in the bed.
I smiled. “I’m Everett Murray.” I glanced at Penelope. “We spoke on the phone.”
“You work with Piper.”
“Everett is the maintenance manager for the Langston Windward,” Piper told them.
“And you came with her,” Hazel said, a look in her eye.
“I wanted her to get here safely. Ro kindly provided his jet.”
Hazel tilted her head. “Are you from Windward?”
“Born and bred.”
The old woman smiled. “A solid, handsome mountain man.”
My smile widened, and I saw Piper roll her eyes to the ceiling.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Everett,” Penelope said. “Thanks for bringing, Piper.”
Her grandmother kept staring at me. “You work with power tools?”
“Sometimes.”
“Do you chop wood?”
“Occasionally.”
“With your shirt off?”
“Gram!” Piper said.
I chuckled.
“My heart had a flutter, doll, but I’m not dead.” Hazel’s shrewd, blue gaze swung back to me. “I’m glad you’re taking care of our girl, Everett. Now, can you all do something and spring me from this place. I want to go home.”
