She should’ve known Grandma would notice. “I’m . . . fine. I just . . .”

“What?”

Bea chewed on a fingernail. “I just was . . . uh, wondering. Did you ever have a secret you were scared to talk about?”

Grandma stopped measuring teaspoons of baking powder into a bowl but didn’t respond.

“What I mean is,” Bea tried again, “what if you knew the truth might change what someone thought of you?”

She imagined what her father’s face would look like when he heard the news about the baby. If he thought her choice to get married at age twenty was irresponsible, what was he going to think of that?

A fiery feeling sparked in her chest. What right did he have to think anything of it? He’d told her he cared about her with his words, but his actions after Mom died had said otherwise.

Voices carried into the kitchen from the hallway. Had the belt buckle appreciation party ended already? Bea gave her grandmother a desperate look, hoping for something, anything that might give her some guidance about talking to her father. No one knew him better than Grandma.

Grandma’s eyes seemed to stare at something far off behind Bea’s head. “Secrets are like pennies . . .”

“What?”

Jeremy and Grandpa entered the kitchen. Grandma shook her head and focused her eyes on Bea’s face. “You’ll be fine, dear. Everything is fine.”

Bea nodded dumbly, disappointment vibrating inside her. But what had she expected? She hadn’t really talked to Grandma in two years, except on the phone at Christmas and her birthday. Maybe she could come visit another day and try again.

She turned her attention to her husband. “What did you think of Grandpa’s collection?”

“Impressive.” He grinned a big dopey grin. He was so cute when he did that. “The Montana state one with the blue stones was my favorite.”

Bea returned his smile. “That was always my favorite, too.”

Grandma pulled the griddle from a bottom cupboard. “So, Jeremy, tell me all about Colorado.”

He gave Bea a quizzical look.

Bea chuckled. “California.”

Grandma set a whisk and large spoon on the counter. “I’ve never been there, but I always thought Colorado would be a nice place to visit.”

Bea frowned. “California, Grandma.”

Grandma continued her preparations as if she hadn’t heard, and Bea caught Jeremy’s eye. He shrugged, unperturbed. Bea supposed it was normal for Grandma to start getting a little forgetful and confused as she aged. She was only human, after all. But she wasn’t that old. Bea considered trying one more time to correct Grandma, but when she glanced at Grandpa Rand, the dejected look on his face changed her mind.