Between the pain of Kevin’s request and Ella’s gentle probing, she couldn’t take much more today. Cursing herself inwardly for the lie, she said it anyway. “I wish I could stay longer, but Pawpaw needs some help at the shop this afternoon.”
Ella crossed her arms over her middle, framing her green-corseted chest. “You going to keep lying to my face? Because we can play that game if you want.”
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7
Leah begged Ella with eyes already filling with tears.
“Don’t make me talk about it, please.”
Ella lowered her brows but nodded. “Okay.”
“Thanks for hanging out with me today. I do appreciate it.”
Ella grabbed Leah’s arm. “Anytime, Leah. I mean it.
Call me.”
The knowing look in Ella’s eyes made Leah feel even worse somehow. She agreed anyway.
“I will.” Leah pulled free and walked away. She hoped she was fast enough to keep Ella from seeing the stupid tears that flowed down her cheeks.
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Two
The bronze bell strung over the door of Ramsey’s Antiques had long ago lost its clapper, but it still managed to clang violently whenever Leah pushed through the door. Pawpaw said that it never sang that loud for anyone but his granddaughter.
“Pawpaw?” Leah dropped her French hood atop the glass counter at the front of the store. Scanning the empty sales floor, she drew in a deep breath, tasting the familiar scent of ancient leather, dust, and pipe tobacco. “You around?”
His voice sounded far away. “In the back, Leelee.
What are you doing here so soon? I thought you were at the faire today.”
Leah rounded the corner and collapsed on the stool behind the counter. The hoops of her farthingale flopped upward, nearly whacking her in the face. With a frustrated groan, she stood and smacked them down again.
“I was. I ran into Kevin, so I left after the coronation.”
“Kevin?” Her grandfather pushed through the swinging door to the stockroom and set the antique vase beside the register. “What in the hell was he doing at the Renaissance festival? I thought he hated ’em.”
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9
“He does.” Leah leaned on the counter, cupping her
chin in her hands. “He came to see me.”
Pawpaw’s already lined face wrinkled further with temper. He crossed his arms over his barrel-like chest, his nostrils flaring. “What did he want with you?”
“To ask me to be Teresa’s bridesmaid.” Her stupid eyes were watering again. She sniffed and trained her gaze at the silver spoons nestled inside the glass case below her elbows. “This is complete and utter crap. I wasn’t good enough for him to love, but I’m good enough to be her stupid bridesmaid?” She dashed the tears away. “Sorry, I don’t mean to dump my problems on you.”
“Leelee.” Her grandfather pulled her upright. “Look at me, girl. Come on.” He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his calloused thumbs, demanding her stare with eyes that were so blue it was eerie— the same eyes that Leah saw in the mirror every day, only his were crowned by wiry salt-and- pepper brows instead of neatly groomed blond ones. Her grandfather, the gold standard for men everywhere. She just wished she could find someone as honorable and protective as he was. “That boy wasn’t ever good enough for you.”
Leah barked a bitter laugh as she averted her gaze. “Apparently he was too good for me. I’m not Washington caliber.”
“I’m not talking about money and power and all that hooey. Leelee, you were a bright child, and you’ve grown into an even brighter woman. It’s going to take a fine man to be able to make you happy. And Kevin wasn’t it. Don’t shed another tear over that good-for-nothin’.” He pressed his lips to her forehead, chasing some of the chill from her heart.
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Gina Lamm
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes
She smiled shakily, drawing in a deep, cleansing breath. “Thank you, Pawpaw.”
He folded her into his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder, just as she had a thousand times before.
He smelled sweetly, of his favorite pipe tobacco and aftershave. His broad hands were warm on her upper back, and she sighed against his familiar, faded, plaid shirt.
Pawpaw was right. He’d always been right.
“Promise me somethin’.”
She looked up at him.
He continued with a half smile, “Promise me you’ll find somebody you can count on. A man who knows what it means to work for a living. A man who won’t let you run over him but will listen to every word you say.”
“I’ve got a grandfather like that,” Leah said with a laugh. “There can’t be another man like you.”