Evie let one wave of decades-old emotion wash over her as she pressed Gramma Finnie to her heart. But that was all. Just one crashing wave, then she composed herself.
Over the past twenty years, Evie had trained herself not to react to any of the large Irish clan that Declan Mahoney called family. She’d long ago learned to hide her response whenever she’d see a Mahoney or Kilcannon and bury the need to ask about him. She was warm, but cloaked in the same steel armor she wore when she performed a life-or-death surgery on someone’s beloved pet. Not that she got to do many of those anymore.
“You look fantastic, Gramma Finnie,” she said and meant it. The little old lady might be a few years younger than the man in the bed upstairs, but she looked as spry and alert as Evie remembered.
“Oh, lass. I’m old, but the Jameson’s keeps my blood flowin’.” She patted her puff of white hair while her cornflower-blue gaze danced over Evie.
Evie tamped down an ancient memory of stolen Jameson’s that tickled her brain.
“And I don’t think we’ve met,” Evie said to the other woman, putting two and two together and coming up with…the Greek side of the Kilcannon family, added when Daniel Kilcannon remarried. “But I talk to Molly once in a while, so I’m guessing you are the great and powerful Yiayia.”
“I am Yiayia,” she said with unabashed pleasure and pride, shaking Evie’s hand. “And it is so nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“You have?” Who’d be talking about her in that family? “And who are these darlings?”
“Pyggie and Gala.” Yiayia relaxed the leashes. “We hope your home is dog-friendly.”
“Anywhere I am is dog-friendly,” she said, bending over to greet the pups, getting a lick from the tan one and a look of pure skepticism from the darker one. He was certainly chunky enough to be called Piggy, although the name seemed a tad mean.
“Please, come in.” She invited them all into the entryway, and immediately Yiayia gasped.
“Holy cra…cow. It’s prettier on the inside, and that’s saying something.” Yiayia circled slowly, taking in the oversized two-story entry and wide red-carpeted staircase.
“Don’t dig too deep, because you’ll find a lot of things falling apart.” Evie walked to the stair rail and rocked the round newel to prove her point.
“A problem many of us grande dames deal with.” Yiayia let her head fall back to look up at the crystal chandelier. “My goodness. How do you clean that? Wait…no one does.”
“Agnes!” Gramma Finnie put her hand on the other woman’s arm. “This is the most beautiful home in Bitter Bark.”
“But not necessarily the cleanest,” Evie agreed, looking up at the hundreds of dangling pieces of crystal overhead. “There’s a way to lower that thing, but that’s above my pay grade.”
“Are these real?” Yiayia pointed to one of the antique brass lanterns on either side of the dining room entry.
“The oil lamps?” Evie nodded. “Obviously, we don’t use them for lighting anymore, but yes, they actually work. They’re all over the house.”
“What brings you home, lass?” Gramma Finnie asked, then her eyes popped. “Is Max worse? Havin’ trouble?”
“He has good days and bad, and yes, he’s part of the reason I’m here. I took a sabbatical this semester to keep him company and…” She lifted her hands in a way that gestured toward the house. “Help my parents figure out what needs to be done around here. Granddaddy’s having a difficult time maintaining everything.”
“So pleased you’ll keep Gloriana House in the family,” Gramma Finnie said.
“Oh, nothing is set in stone,” she said, purposely vague, since no one really knew what they’d do with the house once that sad day came. “So, how are you? How’s your family?”
“Everyone is fine.”
“Declan is really good,” Yiayia said quickly, making Evie blink in surprise.
“Oh, Agnes.” Gramma Finnie clucked and slid her arm around Evie’s. “I was just telling her on the way over here how you and Declan have the same birthday, only one year apart. Do you think I could see dear Max? Is he up for company today?”
“He’d love to see you.” She stole a look at the other woman, her brain stuck on that unexpected mention of Declan.
“Agnes will stay here with the dogs.” She could have sworn Gramma Finnie sent a meaningful look to her friend, which seemed strange. A warning? A message? Some silent communication.
“Of course. You know where Granddaddy’s room is, right, Gramma Finnie?” Evie asked.
“Uh…I might need a refresher, lass. Agnes, keep the pups on leashes, but maybe you could look at the museum room with all the family treasures.” Finnie pointed to the double doors of the library entrance, proving she didn’t need that much of a refresher.
“We’ll wait right in there.” Yiayia gave Evie a tight, almost nervous smile and scooted her purse strap a little higher, giving off a weird vibe that Evie didn’t understand. “They’re good dogs,” she added.
“They’re adorable dogs,” Evie assured her, giving both doxies a little love before she walked with Gramma Finnie up the stairs, taking the climb slowly for the older woman’s benefit.
“So tell me about all the Kilcannons and Mahoneys,” Evie said, glancing over the railing to see Yiayia and her dogs hustling to the room where generations of Bushrod and Hewitt antiques and heirlooms were displayed.
“Oh, there’s a lot of babies,” Gramma Finnie said. “Are ye really here for the whole semester, then? Through the start of the new year?”
“Yes, I am.”
Finnie gave Evie a sideways look, her gray brows raised. “Any handsome man on your arm these days?”
She gave a light laugh, as used to the question as any single forty-year-old woman. “Now and again, but most of the time, I’m busy with work.”
“Oh, really? Well, then, you must come out to Waterford Farm, then, and see our whole family.”
Somehow, she doubted that would happen, but she was saved from answering when they reached her grandfather’s room.
“Granddaddy? I have a wonderful surprise
