Page 32 of More Than a Hero
“This was good,” she murmured against him.
“Yeah,” he agreed, his voice rumbling through his chest. “The kids will get something real out of this. A deeper appreciation for older people. A chance to talk to someone with age and wisdom but not always the body’s ability to do what they want. They’ll gain another adult in their world who gives a damn about them.”
Angie closed her eyes, breathing him in, absorbing the weight of what he was saying.
“And for the older ones,” she added, her voice softer now, “this will be good for them, too. A way to connect, to be around younger energy, to share their music, their stories. To feel… valued.”
Pete’s hold on her tightened, his lips pressing against the top of her head. “It was a fucking phenomenal idea,” he murmured. “And we owe it all to you, Angie.”
She swallowed hard, emotion thick in her throat. But exhaustion was settling in, and her body ached in that familiar way that signaled she’d done too much. A hot bath and a good night’s sleep would do her wonders. And maybe, if she was lucky, she’d dream of him.
She tilted her head back, meeting Pete’s gaze. His eyes were already on her, watching her the way he always did—like he saw everything.
Without thinking, she lifted onto her toes, her arms winding around his neck as she met his lips in a slow, lingering kiss. Pete groaned against her mouth, pulling her flush against him, his hands splaying across her back as he deepened the kiss.
And for that moment—just that moment—nothing else in the world mattered.
14
Angie looked up from behind her desk as Maxine, one of her social workers, strolled in, her sharp gaze filled with curiosity.
"So," Maxine said, settling into the chair across from her. "How’s your new Adopt-a-Grandparent program going?"
Angie smiled, leaning back slightly in her chair. "Well, it's only been two weeks, so we’ve only had two full group meetings, but I think it’s going well."
Maxine arched a brow, grinning. "And the kids? No disasters?"
Angie laughed, shaking her head. "The first Thursday night, when Pete, Richard, and I had everybody together for the first time, I honestly thought it was going to be a disaster. The kids looked completely out of their element—awkward, uncertain, and maybe even a little intimidated. And a few of my seniors, who I know could hold a conversation with a brick wall, just sat there looking bewildered."
Maxine chuckled, crossing her legs as she relaxed into her seat. "How did you get things moving?"
Angie leaned forward, resting her forearms on the desk. "Pete and I had spent the weekend before that first meeting going over each youth and each senior, figuring out who mightbe the best match. Once we got past the introductions that night, we had them sit with their assigned grandparent. That’s when things started to shift."
Maxine nodded thoughtfully. "Was it just the group setting that made it so awkward?"
"I think so. But we were careful with our pairings. We didn’t put a shy kid with a shy senior. And we looked at physical abilities too. Pete has a few older boys, already thirteen, and two of them are big, strong, athletic types. We paired them with older men who are a little more frail, one of whom was recently diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson’s. That way, they could help without making their match feel incapable."
"And what about the couples?"
Angie’s eyes warmed. "A few of the kids in Pete’s group had never had grandparents in their lives at all. We thought those boys would do well with our senior couples. The women are wonderful cooks, but they’re also strong, independent, and very forward-thinking. We figured they’d be great at bringing the kids out of their shells. The men can be excellent role models, as well as Pete and the other mentor, Richard."
"And?" Maxine pressed, leaning in. "Did they actually start talking to each other? Or was it still like pulling teeth?"
Angie grinned. "Oh, it got even better this past week. To get them comfortable, we gave them an assignment. We told them that next week, they’ll be taking a trip to the grocery store together. The kids sat down with their seniors to help them create shopping lists, and that’s when things really loosened up. The seniors did an amazing job of including the kids, asking them what they would like to get from the store."
Maxine’s smile softened. "Sounds like you’ve got something really special happening here."
Angie exhaled, her heart full. "Yeah," she murmured, a warmth spreading through her chest. "I think we do."
Angie’s phone rang just as Maxine stood, tossing her a knowing look and a small wave before slipping out of the office.
“Angie Brown speaking?—”
“Angie! It’s Sylvia.” The voice on the other end was tight with urgency. “I just had one of our Meals on Wheels volunteers try to drop off a meal for Mr. Daniels—Tom Daniels. He lives alone over on Seaport Way.”
Immediately, Angie’s stomach tightened. “I know Mr. Daniels. What’s wrong?”
“No one answered the door,” Sylvia said. “She knocked, called his name—nothing. But two days ago, he answered. She’s worried, and so am I. I’m stuck at the dentist this morning. Can you check on him?”
