Breathe. Okay, breathe. It wasn’t cancer.

“What, then?”

Dad looked down at the court. “We were at the neurologist. Grandpa’s worried about, uh . . .”

Bea frowned. About what? Why was it so hard for him to say it? All kinds of emotions began bubbling up inside her, roiling in her guts in an unfamiliar way. “A brain tumor?”

“No, no. Like I said, it’s not cancer. She’s just having trouble with her mind.”

What was that supposed to mean? Bea thought back to her and Jeremy’s visit to Grandpa and Grandma’s house a few days ago. Grandma had been a little forgetful, but otherwise she’d seemed totally normal.

“There’s nothing wrong with her mind.”

“She was really agitated when we got to the office. She wasn’t herself.”

“Well, of course she was agitated. She hates doctors.”

“It was more than that.”

“You and Grandpa agreed about this?” Bea stuck her hands under her legs. How could they both believe Grandma was losing it? It didn’t make sense.

“We just want to be sure.” Dad kept his eyes on the game, refusing to look at her. “Don’t you worry about it.”

A spark of anger warmed her chest. How many times had he said that when Mom was sick? “Don’t you worry about it.” How many times had he blown off her questions?

Jeremy reappeared and began his ascent to the top row. A hollow spot opened up in Bea’s stomach as she thought about her mother. Maybe that’s what this whole thing with Grandma was really about. Dad always blamed himself for not insisting Mom go to the doctor sooner. Get help sooner. Now he was overcompensating with Grandma and seeing things that weren’t there.

“Side out, Spuds,” Dad shouted. “Come on.”

He was well-versed in volleyball lingo. He’d been at all her games, too.

She took a deep breath and let it out. Grandma June was fine. Dad was worried for nothing. Once they ran more tests, everyone would see. He’d be able to put his mind at ease.

Jeremy reached their seats and gave her a bewildered look. “There’s a peach cobbler out there going for almost two hundred dollars.”

Bea set thoughts of Grandma aside and nodded. Moose Creek wasn’t a wealthy community, but they took care of their own. And the most important thing in her life at this moment started with choco and ended with late. “Did you check on my cake? Is Dad winning?”

Jeremy sat down with a smug smile. “Not anymore.”

The second set was tied 22 to 22, yet Mitch tore his eyes from the volleyball action to stare at his son-in-law. “What do you mean ‘not anymore’? Who’s winning?”

Jeremy held his eyes without flinching. “It’s my job to give Bea what she wants.”

“Is that right.” Mitch frowned. “And what do you know about jobs?”