“Rosemary?” Gramma Dot blinked, confused. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to come check on you and your baby goats.” She smiled up at the old woman. “I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it is.” But Gramma Dot was looking at Everett, who’d climbed the ladder and was standing in front of her. Her forehead furrowed, then cleared. “Everett. Sweet boy... I’m so sorry.” She covered her mouth with one hand and started to sob.
Jenny grabbed Rosemary’s hand, quietly crying at her side.
Rosemary gave her hand an encouraging squeeze. “She’ll be okay, Jenny.”
“What are you apologizing for?” Everett cradled Gramma Dot’s cheek. “You saved me from that boring meeting.”
Gramma Dot sniffed, then giggled.
“You trying to show your baby goats how to be a goat? Tree climbing?” he asked, taking her hand.
“They know how to climb. It was Clark...” She glanced down at the two baby goats curled together beneath the tree. “I thought he was stuck.”
“Ah. This was a rescue mission?” He nodded. “Well, let’s show them how it’s done, okay?” He stepped down onto the ladder, still holding her hand. “I’m going to go first. You hold on to the top rung, okay?”
“I know how a ladder works.” Gramma Dot nodded. “I’ll try not to fall on you.”
Rosemary squeezed Jenny’s hand again, smiling at her. “Sass is always a good sign.”
Jenny sniffed, but she was smiling as she nodded.
It was slow going, and though she did her best not to react, Rosemary held her breath as Everett and Gramma Dot made their way down the ladder. Everett kept talking to her, telling her where to step next or where to put her hands—and Gramma Dot argued the whole time.
“I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” Gramma Dot said as soon as she was standing on the ground, her hands on her hips.
Everett chuckled. “I wanna know how you got up there in the first place.” He peered up into the tree.
Rosemary had been wondering the same thing.
“I climbed. I’ve climbed quite a few trees in my time.” Gramma Dot’s smile was a mix of defiance and pride. The baby goats were up now, hopping and jumping around her and bleating happily. “Hello, babies. Come on. It’s almost time to eat.” She headed for the porch, the goats trailing after her, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.
“Well...” Jenny drew in an unsteady breath. “That was...something.”
Everett drew his sister in for a hug. “It’s all fine now.”
Jenny clung to him and nodded. “Thank you.”
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “You don’t need to thank me, Jen. I’m just glad it turned out okay.” He eased his hold, rubbing her upper arms.
“And thank you, too, Rosemary.” Jenny hugged her then. “I should probably go in and make sure she doesn’t leave the stove on again.” She sighed and ran after her grandmother.
“I didn’t do anything.” Rosemary started walking to the house, but Everett’s hand clasped her arm long enough to stop her.
“You did, Rosebud. You were here for me. And Jenny.” Everett’s gaze locked with hers. “I think seeing you helped jog her memory. Helped her realize where she was and who was with her.” His jaw clenched tight again.
Rosemary couldn’t bear it. Everett was hurting something fierce. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. “I’m so sorry, Everett. That must have been hard. Seeing her confused.” Her hold tightened. “And... I know how much you miss Granddad, too.”
His arms were strong about her. “I do.”
For a minute, they stood—the only sound the distant bleating of sheep. It was okay to simply be quiet with Everett. But now, that didn’t feel right. This morning, she’d seen him badgered and dumped on, scowled at and humiliated, and struggle with grief. Grief over the loss of Granddad and of the woman his Gramma Dot once was. It wasn’t fair. “What can I do, Everett?” she asked, glancing up at him.
His smile was slow and gentle. “This...works.” His hand pressed against the middle of her back.
It was the slightest pressure—but she felt it, in the pit of her stomach. “Okay,” she whispered. She was all too content to stay wrapped up in his arms and soak up the warmth in those brown eyes. “You...you give the best hugs.”
