“Ta-da!” Pru said, leading the way. “We’ve created a suite for Judah and a place for you.”
Under the window that looked out on the backyard, they’d placed a cushy new dog bed with blankets and a pillow embroidered with his name and the words Your Best Friend Leaves Paw Prints on Your Heart, all decorated with those very paw prints and hearts.
“Gramma Finnie?” she guessed.
“Who else?” Molly laughed.
His food and water bowls were inches away, along with a few new chew toys she didn’t recognize. “You guys thought of everything.”
Molly slid an arm around her and gave her a hug while Pru slowly led Judah to his new bed.
“Here you go, buddy,” Pru said, gently encouraging him to lie down.
“Are you exhausted?” Molly asked Evie. “Hungry? Wish we’d all leave?”
A burst of laughter came from the kitchen, making Evie shake her head. “Granddaddy is so happy,” she said. “And I’m glad you’re all here.”
“Well, this one does have to get to school before calculus starts.” Molly gave Pru a nudge. “Let’s move it, Prudence.”
After she walked Molly and Pru out, Evie came back to the kitchen, poured some coffee, and joined the group at the table. Granddaddy was seated at the head, sipping tea, while Yiayia and Gramma Finnie flanked him, hanging on every word.
“Well, this turned into a party,” she said.
“’Tis always a festive day when a dog comes home from the hospital, lass.”
“Kind of like a baby,” Yiayia said, making Evie nearly snort her coffee out her nose.
“You…” She pointed from one oldster to the next. “You all are nuts and unbelievably transparent.” And, possibly, very effective.
“Are we?” Yiayia asked. “I think we’re very smart. Although I have to say, the piano thing was Finnie’s idea.”
“What piano thing?”
The three of them shared a look so heavy with unspoken words she half expected an organ chord to play a sudden accompaniment. But Gramma Finnie shook her head, and Yiayia looked down, and Granddaddy was suddenly preoccupied with his tea.
“Have a cookie, lass,” Gramma Finnie said, pushing a plate toward her.
“They’re kourabiedes,” Yiayia said. “And not your standard Greek cookie, but my grandson Alex’s secret recipe.”
“I heard he cooks like a god.” Evie eyed the older woman, still not able to figure her out. Or her obsession with that damned piano. “So thank you.”
“Did you know Finola and my Penny sang in the church choir together?” Granddaddy suddenly said.
“I think I did.” Evie took a cookie, happy for the change of subject. “Tell me your best memory of her.”
“Oh, lass, there are so many. Like the time she reached around Judy Logan and covered her mouth with her hand during her completely off-key soprano line in the middle of the ten-thirty service.”
“Wait,” Evie said. “My grandmother? Madam Proper?”
“Proper schmopper.” Gramma Finnie slid a look to Granddaddy. “Not at the poker table.”
Evie almost choked. “She played poker?”
“Choir poker is the best poker.” Gramma Finnie gave a playful grin.
“Oh, let’s play some cards now,” Granddaddy suggested.
At the unanimous response, Evie got up and found a deck in a kitchen drawer, joining in on a few hands and checking on Judah every few minutes. She was barely aware of the time that passed while three people, whose combined age was more than two hundred and fifty years old, played cards, not one of them wanting to lose.
During the game, they shared snippets of their lives and filled her heart and mind with stories about her grandmother and each other. Tales that Evie hoped to sit at this very table and share with her grandchildren someday.
Was that possible? Could that dream—
She was pulled from her reverie by a text from Declan.
Is the sunroom floor laid on concrete?
What the heck? She stared at the question, so out of the blue she had to think about the answer. Yes, she finally typed back as she recalled seeing a concrete subfloor when they reconstructed that wing after the fire. She wanted to ask why…but wasn’t sure she wanted to know. But his next text came in a second.
Can you open one of the French doors in there for me?
She pushed up, holding the phone and frowning. “I’ll be right back,” she said, heading to the other side of the house.
Walking into the bright, glass-walled room that had been redesigned as an indoor garden that had gone dormant after her grandmother died, she caught sight of Declan, Connor, and Braden standing out on the patio in a group.
Braden was pointing up to the second-story veranda covering the patio, and she suddenly slowed her step, imagining the conversation.
That’s where it collapsed on Dad.
Trapped him right where the fire was raging.
He never had a chance.
Is this why they’re here? Tracing footsteps, looking into the past, remembering…
Her heart dropped at the thought. When would he forget? Would he ever forget? How could they get anywhere if he slid back into the dark place?
Letting out a sigh and bracing herself for whatever they might say to her, she went to the French doors, only then noticing a huge wooden crate between the men. It had to be seven feet long and three feet high.
As she unlocked the door, her gaze fell on the words printed on the side.
Aqua Paws.
“Is that…” Words failed her.
“Underwater treadmill,” Declan said with that crazy-slow grin. Only this time, it wasn’t Evie’s knees that went weak. It was her heart.
“How? It’s so much, and…Declan.” She literally didn’t know where to begin to thank him.
“Waterford gets a massive discount at the canine equipment warehouse outside of Holly Hills,” he told her. “The chief said the first responders’ charity wanted to contribute, so we can donate it in the department’s name to the vet school when we’re done. And I covered the rest.”
“Declan,” she whispered.
“Evie,” he echoed, coming closer to plant an unexpected kiss on her lips. “You didn’t think I was going to let our boy not have everything he needs.”
“Come on, Daddio, let’s haul this thing in and
