Harper couldn’t believe the crowd. For some reason, she’d thought Monday would be slow at McNeal’s. One more thing she’d been wrong about.
She’d really blown the keep her head down portion of her plan the week before. What had she been thinking, asking Jack about his family? Of course he’d reciprocate and ask about hers. She couldn’t tell him the truth. And she was a lousy liar. What choice had she had but to send him away before he asked more questions?
His expression still haunted her. She’d insulted him. Apparently, she’d insulted him a lot, because she hadn’t seen him since. In fact, if she weren’t mistaken, he’d gone out of his way to avoid her. When she and Gramps had returned to the house on Friday afternoon, she’d seen that Jack had been there to rake up the last of the leaves in the front yard. She could picture him now, watching from his house next door until their car drove away, then rushing over to get it done while they were gone.
That’s how rude she’d been Thursday night.
She’d thought surely she’d see him over the weekend, be able to offer her thanks, maybe even an apology. It was probably better she hadn’t, because an apology might lead to more questions she couldn’t answer. It would be better if she kept her distance from Jack and Bonnie and everybody else she had contact with. If they knew the truth, they’d reject her.
Except Gramps, who knew everything and loved her anyway.
Everything she was doing, all she’d lost—it would all be worth it if she could only keep Gramps safe.
She managed to finish her shift in time—barely. The rec center would close in ten minutes, so she hung up her apron, waved to Bonnie, and headed for her car. On her way, she checked her phone and discovered she’d missed a phone call.
She swiped it on, looked again to make sure she wasn’t crazy. She’d missed four phone calls.
Crap, crap, crap.
While she drove toward the food bank, she listened to the first message. Vanessa’s voice, her no-nonsense tone and Serbian accent. “Your grandfather is very confused, and he is getting agitated. Please call us immediately.”
In the food bank’s lot, she jammed the car into Park and ran in the back door. The warehouse was empty.
Steve, the older man she’d met the other day, was just coming out of the rec center.
He saw her, shook his head. “Your grandfather isn’t here.”
Her shock must’ve shown on her face, because he patted her arm with his age-spotted hand. “He’s okay. He got confused and—”
“I called you.”
Harper turned to see Vanessa coming from her office.
“I’m sorry. My phone has terrible reception. Where is Gramps?”
“He was not able to be calmed,” Vanessa said.
“He was ticked off,” Steve added.
Harper turned back to Vanessa, who said, “I called Jack. He took him home.”
Jack. She closed her eyes, felt the tears burning. Poor Gramps. He must have been terrified. And she’d had no idea.
A hand squeezed her shoulder. She opened her eyes and smiled at Steve, who patted her arm awkwardly. “It’ll be okay.”
“You need a new phone,” Vanessa said.
“Yes. I’ll… It won’t happen again.”
Vanessa nodded once, spun, and returned to her office.
Steve let his arm drop and tilted his head toward the door where Vanessa had just disappeared. “She was worried. I don’t know her very well. Nobody does, to tell you the truth. But from what I can tell, she masks every emotion with irritation.”
Harper focused on the old man. “If you say so.”
“She’ll get over it.”
She’d better, because without this place, Harper wouldn’t be able to keep her job. And then what would she and Gramps do?