Page 9 of Love Story
“That.” She laughed. “But this. Having time for the farmers’ market. Time to make salad. The pace of life.”
“I knew what you meant.” He dried his hands on a paper towel and came to her. With practiced ease he slipped his arms around her waist. “Yes. It feels very good. Especially with you beside me.”
Their eyes met and held. No matter how healthy they were the calendar told him they wouldn’t have this season forever. He was grateful that she appreciated the time together as much as he did.
John was about to ask her about dinner when his cell phone rang. He stepped away and answered it on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Papa! I caught you!”
“Cole!” John covered the receiver and grinned at Elaine. In a whisper he announced the obvious. “It’s Cole!”
“Tell him hi for me.” She returned to the dishes, her eyes filled with a quiet sort of happiness.
“So, Papa, my mom and I are just leaving the high school and we wondered if we could come by your house. Just for a few minutes. I have a big favor to ask. Or maybe more of an adventure.” Cole’s excitement colored every word. “Something we can do together.” He grabbed a quick breath. “If you have time, that is. If not, I completely understand, but I wanted to ask you in person.”
John kept his quiet chuckle to himself. At sixteen, Cole was never at a loss for words. But then he never had been. Since he was a baby, back when Cole spent his days at his grandparents’ house, the boy had been a talker. And one of the people closest to John’s heart.
“I have time. Absolutely.” He raised his brow in Elaine’s direction. “Come on by. We’re just putting away groceries.”
Elaine nodded her response to the unspoken question. Of course they had time for Cole and Ashley. Elaine’s eyes told John that they could stop by whenever they wished.
The call ended and John returned to the red peppers. “Cole has a question for me. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“Nice that he can just stop by.” She hesitated. “I wonder what he needs.”
“No idea.” It was another reason John didn’t miss the working world. Being retired was God’s way of letting him slow down and appreciate life—the small details and precious times like this. Being available for his grandson.
Five minutes later John was at the front window when Ashley’s car pulled up. She and Cole stepped out and headed toward the house.
“They’re here!” John waited a minute as they climbed the steps, then he opened the door. “What a nice surprise!” He hugged his daughter and grandson.
“Dad.” Ashley’s smile looked hesitant. She gave him an apologetic look, one she clearly didn’t want Cole to notice. “Thanks for making time.”
“Of course.” He ushered them inside. The house wasn’t large. Three bedrooms tucked down the hallway. A living room and kitchen. Just enough for Elaine and him. Nothing like the old Baxter home—the one where Ashley and her husband, Landon, were raising their family now. “Have a seat. Elaine made blueberry muffins earlier. Come in the kitchen. I’ll get you each a plate.”
“Yes!” Cole dropped his backpack by the nearest chair and hurried to the kitchen. “I was hoping. Elaine, I love you!”
Ashley laughed. “That boy is always hungry.”
They followed Cole into the kitchen, where Ashley hugged Elaine. “Mmm.” She pointed to the vegetables on the counter. “Looks delicious.”
“For dinner Saturday.” Elaine offered the plate of muffins to Ashley.
“No thanks.” Ashley smiled at Elaine. “Landon’s making dinner.”
Ten minutes later they gathered in the living room. Cole took the lead. “Okay, this won’t take long.” He dug through his backpack and pulled out a crisp white envelope. “We’re doing a class project in history. Sort of a heritage project. Where we came from, who we came from. Stories from long ago. That kind of thing.”
John shifted in his chair. “Interesting.”
“And the other day”—Cole took a small, square photograph from the envelope—“I found this.” He turned it to face them. “And I knew exactly what I wanted to do my project on.”
The floor of John’s heart fell away. The photo was of his first wife, Elizabeth, sitting on their old white sofa, morning sunlight soft on her pretty brown hair. In her arms was a sleeping, two-year-old Cole.
John felt Elaine’s eyes watching him and after a few seconds she stood and smiled at the group. “I’m going to finish up in the kitchen. Cole... Ashley. See you Saturday night.”
As she walked past John she patted his shoulder. Then she was gone.
Cole seemed to sense the awkwardness that had suddenly come over the room. He looked at his mother and then at John. “Is something wrong?”
