Page 32 of Embracing Desire
Katie started to choke.Gran stood, but Katie waved her back down.Wheezing, she stared across the table.“What about them?”she squeaked out.
“Those two boys have grown even closer since you left, Katie.They were both heartbroken when you went to New York City without a word.”
What could she say to that?She had left them and chased after a dream she could never achieve.“I’ve apologized to them.”
“That’s a start.I know why you went to New York with your father.”Gran’s lips pursed as if she tasted something sour.“And while you haven’t told me why you came home, I can guess.”
“Gran, it just didn’t work out.”She almost winced at the sweetness of her own voice.Truth be told, Randall was as bad as her gran sensed, but he was still her father.
“That’s all water under the bridge.I just want you to know that Ry and Jed won’t take your defection in stride this time.They’ll come after you.”
Katie shifted in her chair.What did Gran know?“Umm, Gran…”
“Katie, I know all about those boys and their parents.No business of mine.But those two are now men and not the boys you remember.”Gran fanned her face with her fingers.“Don’t make the mistake and think you can wind them around your little finger like you used to.”
“No kidding.”She burst out laughing at the grin on Gran’s face.
“Aren’t you concerned that I’m with both of them?”Katie’s voice shook a little, but she had to ask.
“No.”Gran patted her gray hair before she took her plate and cup to the sink.“Those two love each other.”Gran faced Katie.“I’m aware of their relationship.They’ll treat my Katie right or answer to me.”
Katie jumped to her feet and enveloped her grandmother in a hug.Gran understood.“Others might make nasty comments.”
“Posh.Old biddies if they do.You do what is right for you and your heart.That’s all I ask.”Gran patted her on the back.“Now, there is one other thing we need to discuss.”
“And that is?”She took a step back and eyed her grandmother warily.
“Sheila Reynolds came into the tea shop yesterday.”
Katie nodded.Gran had run the tea shop in town since Katie was sixteen; she’d even worked there after school.
“She mentioned you were trying to find some office space.”
That was it?Relief poured through her veins.“Yes, Gran.I need to set my accounting business up.I have clients I need to take care of, and I’m sure there are people here in town who could use a good accountant and tax person.”
“I think it’s wonderful.”Gran clapped her hand together.“But you don’t need to look for office space.You can use the office here in the house.”
Katie blinked.“But Gran, that was Grandpa’s office.You haven’t touched it since he passed.”
“I cleaned it out last year.Papers gathering dust and such.It was time to do it.”
“But…”
“Hush, child.”Gran waved her hands.“I want you to use it.There’s no sense in you spending good money when there’s a perfectly good office here.”
Her grandmother’s face blurred as Katie’s eyes filled with tears.Her grandfather had been a math teacher before he retired, which was where Katie got her love for numbers.“Oh, Gran.”Katie threw her arms around her grandmother.
“He’d like having you in his office, doing a job you love.”Gran patted her arms.
“Thank you, Gran.”
“Nothing to thank me for.Now, off with you.”Gran sniffled and pushed Katie to arm’s length.“I’ve got to get to the tea shop, and I bet you’re eager to go into the office.”
“Yes.”Katie kissed her grandmother’s cheek and made her way across the house to her grandfather’s office.She threw open the French doors and sighed.
It still smelled like tobacco and the cheap cologne her grandpa used.The large oak desk needed a good polish, but that was the easy part.She was going to need a good chair, file cabinet, and internet access for her business.While Gran had internet Katie need to have her own.
She’d warned her clients she’d be out of touch, and if it was an emergency, they could call her.Every time her phone rang she’d check the caller ID.If it was her father or ex, she ignored it.If it was a client, she answered it.She’d change her number, but it was one she had before she left Felton’s Creek.
