Well, don’t act too excited, my girl. Roxie swallowed her comment and nodded. “Should I call and ask what we can bring?”

Loren shook her head. “How should I know?”

“We’ll just take a hostess, er, host gift. Do you know his wife’s name?”

“The father’s not married. Divorced years ago.”

“Oh.”

“You want to go work in the backyard now?” Loren asked.

“Sure. Before it gets too hot.”

“No, before it rains. You can feel it on the wind.”

A barbeque tomorrow. As Amalia so often said, Life changes in an instant and we have no control over it.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Grandma, we left you alone.” Addy wrapped her arms around her grandma.

Ginny held her close, tears dripping down on her head. “I wasn’t alone, Amalia has been here. And besides, I think this was a good thing.” Liar. Nothing has been good since you found Fred. “But you know what, we sure missed your cookies.”

“But people brought lots of cookies and pies and cakes and everything,” Addy protested.

“Probably there are lots in the freezers, both here and at your house. But fresh are better.”

“I don’t want to make peanut butter ones.” She lifted her tear-stained face to Ginny. “I don’t ever want to make peanut butter cookies again.”

How to answer this? Ginny smiled. Or tried to. “Grandpa liked them a lot. Someday we might want to make them as a tribute to him.”

“We could change the name on the recipe to Grandpa’s Peanut Butter Cookies.”

“That’s a good idea.” Ginny smiled again on the outside.

“Andy didn’t want to come.”

“I understand but I thought that one night when neither of you have something going on…”

Addy sounded weary. “It’s summer vacation, Grandma. We don’t have homework, you know.”

“True, but you both have ball practice and games…”

“Games are on Saturday unless we do a tournament on Saturday and Sunday. You’re coming on Saturday?”

The last thing in the world I feel like doing. “Wouldn’t miss it. Want some lemonade?”

Addy looked around. “Is Miss Amalia still here?”

“I think she is down in the garden.”

“The flowers or Grandpa’s?”

“Grandpa’s. You go tell her to come up for lemonade.” Ginny checked her watch. “About dinnertime. I’ll get something started while you go get her. You rode your bike over?”

“Yep. Dad said to ask if you need help with the chores tonight. I can do them.”

“How about I call your mom and invite everyone here for hamburgers and something out of the freezer?”

“Good. Can I spend the night?”

Oh Lord, what do I say? What if I start to cry and I can’t stop? I don’t want to frighten her. “Don’t you have ball practice?”

“At three. You could take me.”