“That’s good.” She says it in a distracted way, and at first, I’m not sure if she’s talking to Mojo or to me.
She gives him another hug. My goofy dog doesn’t complain. “God, I’ve missed you.”
“You saw him only a few days ago.”
“I can still miss him.” She pushes herself to her feet and strides up the path to the front door. Mojo and I walk alongside her.
The cool ocean breeze ruffles her hair. She brushes a wayward strand behind her ear and presses the doorbell.
The door opens a moment later, and Juanita waves us inside. Mojo barks his greeting.
“Yes, Mojo,” she says, laughter in her tone. “You’re an adorable dog who plans to shed over everything right after I vacuumed.”
He gives her his best doggy grin, proud of such high praise.
“Your grandmother never mentioned you were planning to visit her,” she says to Isabelle. “But fortunately, I just made your favorite croissants. I’ll bring them onto the balcony as soon as they’re ready.”
“You don’t have to go to all that trouble,” Isabelle tells her, which is the opposite of what the gleam in her eyes says.
“For you,chica, it’s no trouble.” She scurries toward the kitchen. Isabelle, Mojo, and I head for the balcony door.
Isabelle slides it open. Mojo pushes past, eager to visit with Josephine. Henri and Liza are also sitting outside with her.
The moment Josephine sees us, her eyes widen. “What are you two doing back so soon? The last I heard, you were extending your stay a few weeks. Did you already solve the mystery?”
Maybe it’s just me, but she seems awfully disappointed to see us. The same expression is mirrored on her friends’ faces.
“You could say that.” Isabelle walks to an empty chair.
Henri exchange glances with Josephine. She gives him the universal gesture for “Move over.” Grinning, he can’t move fast enough—well, it’s more like a fast shuffle—to the other empty chair, allowing me to sit next to Isabelle.
“We have some questions we need to ask you,” Isabelle tells her grandmother.
“Ask away.”
“Have you and Bernard been in contact much with each other since your breakup?”
“Not really. We would bump into each other from time to time after he moved back to LA because we attended some of the same Hollywood events. We met on friendly terms, but that’s about it.”
“So before he told you that he needed my help, you hadn’t had much contact with him, other than at those events?”
“That’s right. A few months ago, we were at the same charity event and started talking. I might have mentioned that you work for a high-level security and investigation firm. You know, in the way a grandmother likes to do when boasting about her grandchild…”
She pauses, and we both nod for her to continue.
“There’s a chance I mentioned how you seem disillusioned by long-term relationships because of what happened with your parents, and that I was disappointed there will be no great-grandchildren in my future because of that. I might have also mentioned Jayden.”
For the first time since I’ve known Josephine, she looks uncertain.
“What exactly did you mention about Jayden?” Isabelle asks.
Josephine exchanges glances with her friends. They, too, nod for her to continue. Only this time it’s a we’ve-got-your-back nod.
“That you two would make a great couple if you ever got over your phobia of marriage and long-term relationships.”
Isabelle sits a little straighter. “I’m not afraid of marriage. I just don’t want to waste time in a relationship if the man will end up ripping my heart out when he cheats on me, or if it turns out he’s unwilling to accept me as I am.”
“Yes, but Jayden’s not the kind of man who would cheat on a woman,” Henri says. “He’s the kind of man who would cherish the woman he loves. Warts and all.”
