Page 67 of Courage, Dear Heart
Jamie grabs two cookies and hops on an empty chair next to Grace, points at us and mimics washing his hands in a clear indication for us to do the same.
“Okay, boss man,” Elliott says, “we’ll go wash our hands, too.”
Jamie grins with a mouth full of cookies.
I hold back a laugh. “Manners, Jamie. Slow down.”
Grace fills up a glass with lemonade for Jamie. Strawberry slices floating on top. “Slow down, honey. There’s plenty more. Take a drink.”
We walk inside and wash our hands side by side in the kitchen sink. “Thank you again for inviting us.”
Elliott smiles. “You said that already. No need to thank me. I wanted you both here.”
“I’m going to be saying it again and again.”
We go back outside and Elliott moves two chairs across from Grace and Jamie.
Grace holds a plate with the cookies out for us. I grab one and take a bite. “Oh my God. These are amazing. Now I know where your granddaughter gets it from.”
“Oh, you’ve met Sabrina?”
“Yes. She was kind enough to teach me and Jamie how to make cupcakes.”
“Sabrina always loved doing that. Anyone she could rope into the kitchen for baking.”
“I’m afraid I’m nowhere near as good as her. My baking is pretty bad, right, Jamie?”
Jamie shoves another cookie into his mouth and nods.
Elliott chuckles. “Hey, little man, that’s not nice.”
I laugh. “But it’s true. I can cook. Baking was never a strong skill.”
Grace turns to Elliott. “And what’s next on the agenda?”
“Horses.”
Jamie perks up on the edge of his seat.
“Horses?” I ask.
Elliott winks at Jamie. “I thought Jamie might like to meet the horses and go for a ride.”
Jamie stands up and nods, setting down the cookie he was about to eat.
Elliott puts a hand up. “Not yet. In a little while. Let’s finish our snacks and drinks and then we can go.”
Grace taps Jamie’s knee. “You know, Elliott has beenriding horses since he was about your age. He even tried to ride a cow once. I think he was about six.”
I nearly choke on my lemonade. “No way.”
“Oh, here we go. Thanks, Grandma. Is it time for embarrassing stories now?”
Gracie takes a sip of her lemonade, but it doesn’t hide her smile. “It’s always time to embarrass my grandchildren with childhood stories.” She looks at me. “But I’ll let Elliott tell you his version of it. Then we can compare it to my version.”
I grin. “Sounds like an excellent plan.”
Elliott shakes his head. “Devious, Grandma. You are devious. Is that what I get for coming here to visit you? And you say you love me.”
