Page 59 of The Dangers of Daydreaming

“Then allow me to provide a list of potential dinner locations. We have several.”

By about the third place I claimed not to be interested in, he started to figure out that I was exaggerating my picky eating. Conversation about dinner turned to conversation about our favorite foods, which turned to even more general likes and dislikes. I laughed a lot, didn’t think about work hardly at all, and by the time we got to the hospital, it was like the ride had been five minutes rather than over half an hour.

Finn’s Gram met us in the lobby like before, but this time she didn’t seem as tired, and there was a more genuine smile on her face. Rather than talking first to Finn, she turned to me. Her eyes were crinkled at the edges, reminding me a bit of Finn but with more lines from age.

“I’m so glad you came. I told Finn to bring you back after the surgery—James has wanted to meet you, and I never got to thank you properly.” She reached out and squeezed Finn’s hand before gesturing us to the elevators.

I fell into step beside them. “I had no clue he wanted me to come along until today,” I said, fully throwing Finn under the bus.

“Sorry, Gram, I’ve been trying to convince Lucy to go a few other places with me, too, and those haven’t been working. Guess I thought I wouldn’t be too capable of getting her out here either.” His eyes met mine over his Gram’s head. I scrunched my nose at him. He winked at me.

“Lies. He knew I’d come,” I said. “He’s just worried you’ll like me more than him.”

Gram laughed. “He’s right to worry. After how sweet you were during James’s surgery, I’m definitely partial to your company.”

“If you two like each other so much, Gram, you should ask Lucy to join us for dinner tonight.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. Underhanded tactics.

“Oh, I would love to, but I had a large lunch and I’m not sure I’ll make it to dinner. I usually fall asleep the moment I lie down, no matter what time.”

“That has to be exhausting, all the going back and forth,” I said.

Gram nodded as we all stepped out of the elevator. “It is, but I don’t mind. I don’t like to be too long from James.” She reached a door and put her hand on the handle before looking over at me. “It’s been fifteen-odd years since we’ve spent a night apart. If I could just stay at the hospital, I would, but he worries about the B&B, and I worry about my back.” She pulled open the door, stepping into the room. “James, I brought friends to see you.”

Finn’s hand found the small of my back as we walked in, and I tried my best not to shiver at the contact. Apparently, we were back to the physical sort of enticement. I couldn’t say I minded too much.

An older gentleman sat propped up in bed. His grin was mischievous as his wife moved toward him and grasped his hand.

“What have you done?” she asked, suspicious.

“Nothing at all,” he responded, patting her hand. “Finn, who’ve you brought to meet me?”

“Pops, this is Lucy. She’s a guest at the B&B this week.” His hand was still on my back, and I tried not to squirm at the attention all three were giving me.

Well, actually just two. Gram was staring, eyes narrowed, at her husband. “What did you do?”

A nurse came in just then. “Okay, Mr. Harrison, I apologize, but your doctor is not okay with lowering your pain medication dose.”

Gram rounded on her husband. “You can hardly sit still, you're in such pain, but you’re trying to lower the dose?”

Not batting an eye at her wrath, Mr. Harrison smiled at his wife. “Pain medication is not good for the body. I’m just trying to do what’s best in the long run.” He looked up at the nurse. “We can try again tomorrow.”

“Oh no, you will not,” Gram said. She appeared close to stamping her foot.

The nurse looked amused by their bickering, and I imagined this wasn’t the first time. Unfortunately for Finn’s grandpa, who already seemed to be losing the current fight, the door to the room opened again after a courtesy knock, and an orderly entered, carrying a tray.

“All right, Mr. Harrison, we’ve got your meal here.”

Gram’s eyes took in what we could all see. It was as if a toddler had been given free rein to order their favorite foods. Mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, a mug of hot chocolate… andtwoslices of chocolate cake.

Gram’s eyebrow rose sardonically. “Good for your body, you were saying?”

She wasn’t a very tall woman, so even in bed, Mr. Harrison was easily able to reach a veiny hand up to his wife’s lined face and cup her cheek. “Balance, my dear. This stuff is good for my soul.” He gave the man carrying the tray a wide smile, patting his lap. “You can just put it right here.” He looked back at his wife. “And the second slice of cake is for you.”

Finn cut in. “None for me?”

“Take your lady down to the cafeteria and grab a couple slices on me,” Mr. Harrison said, winking at both of us.

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