Page 44 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope
“Yes, ma’am,” Andrew said, sitting up a little straighter in the pew.
Greyson stared up at Andrew in wonder. “You went to church here when you were my age?”
“Don’t make it sound as if it was eons ago, kid,” Andrew ruffled the boy’s hair. “But, yes, I’ve run up and down and around these pews quite a few times during my day.”
“Mom doesn’t let me run in church,” Greyson pointed out.
“No one ‘let’ him do it, either,” Ruby said from in front of them, reaching around to pat her grandson’s knee and bestow a big, happy grandma smile on him. “Good to see you here this morning, dear.”
He waggled his brows and gave a look that probably always worked on his grandmother as he asked, “Think it’ll earn me a batch of your Christmas cookies?”
Morgan wasn’t surprised by Ruby’s happy little laugh. Eyes twinkling, Ruby said, “It might just so long as you behave back there and don’t make me have to turn around to straighten you up.”
“Grandma’s threatening to withhold the cookies.” Andrew sighed. “Guess there’ll be no running in church for me today.”
“Lord forbid,” Maybelle intoned, and tsked at him. “Don’t you go teaching Greyson your bad habits.”
Andrew leaned over and stage whispered, “Don’t listen to them, Greyson. I was actually a great kid and always did what I was told.”
Maybelle cleared her throat. Ruby laughed and patted him on the knee again. Rosie snorted from the other side of Maybelle. Grammy just smiled as her gaze stayed on Morgan, making her feel as if she shouldn’t look directly at Andrew for fear of putting the women in a tizzy.
“Well, most of the time,” he amended, winking at Greyson.
Morgan took in the back and forth, self-conscious that she and Andrew were surrounded by Butterflies and even more so that the conversation was going on around her, with her quietly taking it all in.
“No running in church, Greyson,” Andrew told him. “Can’t have the ladies saying I was a bad influence. There are cookies on the line here.”
Greyson shook his head. “I wouldn’t run here anyway. Mommy says I might bump into someone and if an older person falls, it might hurt them.”
Morgan beamed, happy that he’d been paying attention.
“One of her patients has a broken bone from where he fell—but not from anyone running and bumping into him.” Greyson’s face squished with thought. “Well, I don’t think anyone bumped him.”
He looked to her for confirmation and she shook her head. John had slipped on ice and lost his footing. Not that she’d say that in front of Maybelle since the woman knew him. John was entitled to his privacy, especially in front of someone Morgan knew he’d want to impress.
“Yet another reason not to run in church,” Andrew agreed. “I’m glad you’re considerate of other people, Greyson. That’s a good trait to have.”
Greyson lit up at the compliment. “Do you want to come eat with us after church? Grammy made pot roast. It’s really good. Mommy and I want you to come, don’t we?”
Morgan’s cheeks flamed. “Greyson, Andrew’s barely sat down and here you are trying to get him to go somewhere else. Be thankful he accepted your invitation to come to church rather than pushing for more of his time. He worked all night and may want to go home and rest after services.”
Andrew shook his head. “Nope. It was a slow night. I got plenty of rest.”
“Oh. Well, you may have things you need to do.”
He shrugged. “Got to eat, regardless of whatever else I do.”
If he wanted off the hook from going to her grandmother’s for lunch, he wasn’t helping. Then again, he probably didn’t want off the hook. She was the one who got all anxious and uncertain around him. And he, well...he’d said he wanted to be her friend. Was that all he wanted? Their almost-kiss must’ve meant something more.
“Oh, Andrew, you definitely should. Claudia’s pot roast is heavenly,” his grandmother urged, turning around from the pew in front of them again. “It’s one of your grandfather’s favorite things Claudia makes and he always raves about it anytime we get a chance to have it. You’ll love it.”
“You think?” He sounded amused. “If Grandpa raves about it, then I shouldn’t pass up an opportunity to try it.”
Morgan just shook her head. She wasn’t sure if the Butterflies and Greyson had railroaded Andrew into agreeing, or if he was in on the meddling and had somehow orchestrated the whole thing to keep her world off-kilter,
He definitely made things feel topsy-turvy. Things such as her good sense.
Because when her gaze met his, even knowing all the reasons why she shouldn’t give in to the urge, she couldn’t prevent the smile on her face that he was there.
