Elana frowned. “Yes. How did you know?”
She snorted. “I suspect he is wanting you to talk me into going into a nursing home. And he’s keeping tabs on me, waiting on me to slip up and give him ammunition to gain total control of my money.”
Elana shifted in her seat, uncomfortable at her grandmother’s statement. She didn’t even have words to defend her father. How could she? What her grandmother said was true.
“I’m going to have a nice long soak in the tub before going to bed.” Grandma Cecilia stood and stretched her arms over her head. “There is a fire pit on the back deck. You should start a fire and take a blanket with you to snuggle up. It’s a perfect night for stargazing.” She walked over to Elana and kissed her cheek. “Good night, dear.”
She smiled. “Good night, Grandma Cecilia.”
She watched her grandmother head to her room before turning to Jack. “Well, Jack. Do you feel up for a fire outside?”
Jack sat on his haunches and let out an affirming bark.
She grinned and grabbed her coat. Digging through the kitchen drawer, she pulled out a lighter. Her grandmother had bought a bottle of pinot noir that she had opened before she’d gone to have a bath.
Elana found a wineglass in a cabinet and poured herself a glass.
Grabbing the fuzzy throw on the back of the couch, she opened the back door to the deck.
Jack hurried over to the edge of the deck and looked around while she got busy making a fire.
She pulled a deck chair near the ring of fire and eased into the seat. She carefully wrapped the warm blanket over her before finally relaxing.
Elana took a sip of the wine and closed her eyes in bliss.
She opened her eyes and stared up at the starry night.
“It’s beautiful,” she said quietly. Jack rested his head on her thigh. She slowly petted the dog’s head as she stared into the fire.
Her phone buzzed in her coat pocket.
Elana sighed and reached for it.
“Hello?”
“Elana, why haven’t you called with an update? You should have made it to Montana yesterday.” Her father’s tone dripped with irritation.
She rolled her eyes. “We just made it.”
He snorted. “Has she seen this man who is catfishing her?”
Elana shifted in her seat. “No. Tomorrow.”
He chuckled. “She’ll realize she made a big fool out of herself and come crawling back home. But that’s okay. We’ll take care of her when she gets home.”
Elana gritted her teeth. “I don’t think Grandma Cecilia needs anyone to take care of her.”
Her father barked out a laugh. “Are you crazy? After this stunt she pulled? She’s lucky she’ll even be granted an allowance after this.”
Elana felt her whole body go hot with rage. “Careful, Father. You wouldn’t want Grandma Cecilia to realize how cruel her son turned out to be. A son who only wants to put her in a nursing home so he can get her money.”
He stuttered on the other end of the line, clearly shocked that Elana had stood up for her grandmother.
He started to offer some kind of apology, but she didn’t want to hear it.
“I’ve got to go. Tomorrow is a busy day.” She ended the call and put her phone away.
He called back, and she turned her phone off.
