Page 22 of Sweet Trouble
Though how she was going to broach the subject, she had no idea.
Saying a silent prayer for inspiration, she hopped out of her car, grabbed her bag from the back, and headed inside.
She climbed the back steps, which really were in great shape, and she wondered if maybe Tripp had helped Gram and Grampy with them. Something about the way he’d said maybe Grampy wouldfinallylet him get into some real work made it sound like he had been wanting to help for a while.
He seems like such a big-hearted person,she thought to herself.
But she had thought that before, when he volunteered on the play with what little free time he had between hockey and helping with the family farm. And she remembered all too well how that had ended.
“Mama,” Posey yelled happily, bringing Jillian back to the present as she came in the back door.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Jillian said, catching her daughter as she blasted across the room. “How was your day?”
“Great,” Posey said. “We’re making macaroni and cheesewithout a box.”
Jillian laughed, even though she felt a little embarrassed.
Back in the city, she hadn’t had time for many nice dinners after Alan left. Mari probably remembered how much pride her mother used to take in preparing a healthy, home-cooked meal. But poor Poseyapparently thought that macaroni and cheese could only come from a box.
I’ve always done my level best,she tried to comfort herself.
“How was your day?” Gram asked from the table.
“Cup of tea?” Grampy offered. He was already heading for the kettle like he knew her answer.
“Oh, I’dloveone,” she told him. “Thank you so much. I could really get used to all this.”
Mari looked up from her work sprinkling grated cheese on top of the noodles in the casserole dish and smiled.
“Youwillget used to it,” Grampy said. “This is how things are going to be. And your grandmother and I couldn’t be happier.”
“That looks perfect, Marigold,” Gram said to Mari. “I’m going to put it in the oven. Do you girls want to get started on your homework?”
“Okay,” Mari said happily. “Dining room table?”
“Yes,” Jillian told her. “You two can get started, and I’ll be right out to help you. I just want to chat with Gram and Grampy for a minute first.”
Posey skipped out to the dining room happily enough, but Mari was frowning suspiciously as she grabbed her bag and followed.
She’s my daughter through and through,Jillian thought to herself.
Jillian had always been a bit of a worrywart, thinking two steps ahead about everything that could go wrong. It was a trait that paid off in certain situations. But the rest of the time, she’d had to learn to try and let go of herapprehension and just let the wonderful, terrible chaos of life unfold, especially since having kids. It was a skill she was still struggling with.
Mari will get there,she told herself.We both will.
“One cup of chamomile,” Grampy said, placing it on the table in front of her as he sat down across the table beside Gram. “What’s up?”
“Thank you so much,” Jillian said, inhaling the fragrant steam and toying with the string of the teabag. “It’s about my contractor and the addition.”
“He’s welcome anytime,” Gram said firmly.
“And you just do what you think is best,” Grampy added. “You know this house will belong to you and Amberlee one day.”
If that wasn’t an invitation to bring up a renovation, then she was never going to get one.
“Are you sure about that?” she asked him.
“Very sure,” he told her. “We want you to be happy here.”
