Page 43 of A Tempting Seduction

“Ruby, dear!” Violet's voice called out before I could knock a second time. “Perfect timing!”

The door swung open to reveal Violet's smiling face, but behind her I caught a glimpse of silver hair and heard Little Grandma's distinctive laugh echoing from the dining room.

“Oh boy,” I breathed. “You have company.”

“The best kind,” Violet said, stepping aside to let me in. “Come see who's here.”

I followed her into the dining room and stopped short. My great-grandmother and Little Grandma sat around the small dining table with Luther, and scattered across the surface were playing cards, loose change, and a couple of crumpled dollar bills. Luther held a deck of cards in his weathered hands, shuffling them with the practiced ease of someone who'd been doing it for decades.

“Ruby!” Miss Gladiola's face lit up. “We were hoping you'd show up.”

“Lettie dropped us off about an hour ago,” Little Grandma explained. “We thought it might be nice to visit Luther and Violet. We haven’t played a good game of pinochle in ages.”

Luther looked up from his cards, his blue eyes sharp and focused. Today was one of his clearer days, though I knew better than to expect them to last or come with any predictability.

“You're just in time to sit in with us for some hands,” Violet said, pulling up an extra chair.

“Only if she brought money,” Luther inserted.

My mouth fell open. “I don't know how to play.”

“We'll teach you,” Little Grandma said, and the glint in her eyes made my stomach drop. Miss Gladiola nodded in agreement, wearing the exact same expression.

“Oh no,” I said, backing toward the door. “I've heard stories about card games with you two. I'll just leave the pastries and⁠—”

“Sit,” Luther said with authority. “Can't be that hard to learn if these old biddies can play.”

“Old biddies!” Miss Gladiola swatted at him with her free hand. “I'll show you an old biddy, Luther Randolph.”

“Promises, promises,” he shot back with a grin that made Violet laugh.

Thirty minutes later, I stared at the meager pile of change in front of me while everyone else's stacks had grown significantly. Especially Little Grandma's.

“How is that possible?” I asked, watching her scoop up another pile of quarters. “I swear you had terrible cards that hand.”

“Experience, dear,” Little Grandma said sweetly. “Lots and lots of experience.”

Luther chuckled and dealt another hand. “Don't feel bad, Ruby. Esperance here has been taking people's money at cards since before you were born.”

“Before your grandmother was born,” Miss Gladiola added. “I still remember the time she cleaned out half the church social playing poker behind the fellowship hall.”

“That was one time!” Little Grandma protested. “And it was for a good cause.”

“What cause was that?” Violet asked, arranging her cards.

“The new church roof fund.”

“Did you donate the money?” I asked.

Little Grandma's pause was telling. “Eventually.”

I lost the next hand too, and the one after that. By the time we finished playing, I was down five dollars, and everyone was calling Little Grandma a card sharp.

“All right, all right,” I said, pushing my remaining change toward the center of the table. “I surrender. You win.”

“Smart girl,” Luther said, gathering up the cards. “You might want to reconsider playing for money next time.”

I looked at Luther's clear eyes and easy smile, at the way he and Violet kept catching each other's gaze across the table. These moments of clarity were precious, even if they came without warning and left just as suddenly.