Page 38 of Lovers at Seaside
“You sure do hug a lot,” he grumbled.
She could tell he was forcing the grumpiness and decided to tease him a little. “I only hug grumpy old men.”
“I think Lacroux might refute that.”
She smiled. “Yes, you’re probably right.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s in the bathroom. He’ll be in shortly.” She slid her bag from her arm to retrieve the pictures and letters. She hadn’t considered his lack of sight until now, and wondered if he could see anything at all. “I brought you a few things.”
His fingers curled around the sheets. “Why?”
“Because I’m a nice person. And because I thought you might want them. Abe, please excuse me for asking, but—”
He held up a shaky hand. “Confidence. Control. Didn’t Bert teach you anything? Don’t say excuse me for asking and then proceed to ask a question. Just ask the stupid thing. Or don’t. But be confident in whatever you do.”
She was strangely pleased with the life lesson he doled out so adamantly. That had to mean he cared, at least a little. Otherwise why bother? She heard Grayson come into the room.
“Right, sorry. Abe, can you see anything at all?” She cringed inwardly at the directness of the question.
“No. And don’t get all sappy,” he said sharply. “Macular degeneration happens to old people, and it’s a blessing. I don’t have to see myself wither away.”
“Okay, no sappiness,” she said as Grayson came to her side and placed his hand on her lower back.
“Lacroux.” Abe gave a single, curt nod.
“How are you, Abe?”
“How do Ilook?” He waved a gnarled hand. “Don’t answer that. Tell me how Parker looks.”
Grayson’s eyes widened, and Parker was sure hers were just as big at the unexpected request.
“My pleasure.” Grayson’s eyes rolled over her face and moved slowly down her body, making the room feel a lot hotter. “Let’s see. I’m sure you don’t want to hear that she’s beautiful, because that’s too easy of an answer. Or that her blue eyes are a soft Carolina blue and her hair is the color of corn silk, fresh off the cob. You know that stringy stuff? My mother used to make us kids strip it away, but I digress.”
He paused, and she knew he was enjoying the way each description hit her square in the center of her chest, which she didn’t even try to hide.
“I’ll skip all that,” Grayson said with a grin, “and go right to the slightly embarrassed look on her face, which is quite obviously warring with the smile she can’t even begin to contain.”
“Sheesh,” Abe mumbled. “Carolina blue?” He shook his head. “Parker, what’d you bring me? Give me something to get the sappy taste out of my mouth.”
She and Grayson both laughed, but her heart was still racing from the things Grayson had said. The bit about his mother felt special, and when he’d said it, his eyes had warmed like it felt special to him, too.
“I brought a picture of you and Bert when you were boys. And one of the two of you with your parents.”
Abe’s eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, which Parker took as a good sign. She described the picture of Abe, Bert, and their parents.
“I remember,” he said under his breath. “Go on.”
She described what he and Bert were wearing in the picture of the two of them, and the house behind them. Abe held a shaky hand out, palm up. She and Grayson exchanged another surprised glance as she set the photograph in his palm. He held it tightly between his finger and thumb and lowered his hand back to the bed.
“Wewerefriends, once,” he grumbled. “What else?”
She was more nervous about the letters than the pictures. “I brought Bert’s letters that you returned. I wasn’t sure if you would want them, or want me to read them to you, but they’re yours. They belong with you.”
He waved toward the bedside table. “Set them over there.”
“Okay.” She set them on the table. “Maybe I can read them to you the next time I visit.”
