Page 56 of Booked for Summer

Worry shifted through him. If it had been the first time she’d made a mistake misreading something, he’d brush it off, but this was getting too regular. ‘Merlot and Pinot Noir aren’t exactly similar.’

‘They are when you’re old and in a hurry.’

She busied herself getting cheese out of the fridge and the worry deepened as he recognised her behaviour. She was avoiding looking at him. Walking up behind her, he took the cheese from her hands, set it on the island and closed the fridge door. ‘Talk to me.’

‘I know you prefer the Merlot, but I’m sure the Pinot Noir will be fine. I remember a time when having a glass of wine at all was a luxury we could only afford on special occasions?—’

‘Stop.’ He clasped her face, more wrinkles now than when they’d shared the occasional bottle on his breaks from university, yet still so very dear to him it made his heart hurt just looking at her. ‘Is it your eyesight? Is that why you’re misreading labels and have stopped driving?’ He thought back to his visits over the last three months. ‘Is that why you haven’t asked me to bring you a new book?’

Blue eyes, dimmed with age, darted away from his. ‘You always did know when I was struggling.’

‘It’s my job to know.’ He bent to kiss her furrowed forehead. ‘My job to take care of you.’

She humphed. ‘I don’t want you wasting your time on me. I want you living your life.’

Christ. When he’d told Jade his grandma was the best person he knew, he’d only scratched the surface of how lucky he’d been to have her. ‘How can I live my life if I’m worried about you? Now tell me what’s happening so I can fix it.’

She patted his cheek. ‘My dear boy, this is something you can’t fix.’

She took his hand and led him to the sofa, sitting down first before patting the space next to her. He dropped into it, wrapping his arms around her, his mind immediately making similarities between her frail, bony body and the youthful curves of the last woman he’d held. ‘The doctor says I have age related macular degeneration, the common one, and there’s no treatment. I just have to find ways to adapt to it.’

Fuck. His mind buzzed. ‘How long has this been going on?’ Why hadn’t he noticed? He’d just said it was his job to take care of her, yet he’d done a piss-poor job of it.

‘For a while I’ve noticed my eyesight has become blurred. It’s just the bit in the middle, but it makes it harder to read.’ She smiled sadly. ‘I think that’s the worst part. You know how I love to read my books, but it’s proving a bit of a struggle now.’

‘Have you seen a specialist? Of course you haven’t,’ he muttered, answering his own question. ‘First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll make you an appointment with the top guy. From now on, no more handling this on your own. Together we’ll find a way through it.’

She patted his hand. ‘I don’t want you worrying about me. I’m taking all these fancy vitamins the doctor suggested and I bought myself a magnifying glass and brighter light bulbs.’

Brighter bulbs? She couldn’t see to read and she thought brighter bulbs was the answer? ‘From now on we’re in this together,’ he repeated. Because he could see she was about to argue, he shot her his best smile. ‘Batman and Robin.’

‘You silly goose.’ She shook her head, but he could see amusement chase away some of the shadows. ‘Bonnie and Clyde.’

‘Woody and Buzz Lightyear.’

That got a chuckle out of her. ‘Abbot and Costello.’

It was a game they’d played when he’d been down, usually the day before he had to go back to school. It was only later he’d realised it had been her way of reminding him she was always there for him. ‘Scooby-Doo and Shaggy.’

She sighed, her body relaxing against his. ‘Fine. You win. Make me an appointment.’

He poked her gently in the ribs. ‘Snoopy and Woodstock. And I’m doing more than making you the appointment. I’m taking you to wherever we need to go, and throwing vast amounts of money in whatever direction will get you the best possible care.’

Her eyes glistened and she squeezed his arm. ‘You’re a good grandson.’

He hadn’t been, not over the last few years, he realised with a rush of shame. Oh he’d seen her regularly, and phoned when he couldn’t, but he hadn’t paid attention, his mind too focused on business.

It made him think of Jade, and her earnest expression as she’d told him he was too preoccupied with money to see what was important.

She’d been right, but it wasn’t the community he needed to become his priority. It was his grandma.

ChapterTwenty

Friday evening, and Jade was in the library with Claire, making sure everything was ready forBookish Speed Dating–find your book match.

No, not the library. That was far too dry a word for such a glorious building. She was in the Nantucket Atheneum. Even its correct name, written in regal gold lettering on the front of the building, was majestic. Nestled in the heart of downtown Nantucket, the neoclassical building resembled an historic mansion with its tall, imposing white columns framing an entrance reached by a series of regal steps, flanked either side by shrubs in giant pots. It was elegant, it wasmagnificent. Absolutely the perfect homage to books and reading.

‘Are we expecting Liam?’ Claire asked as they surveyed the Great Hall.

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