“That’s my plan, Sunshine. Aren’t you excited?”
“Hey, I have a question for you,” I hesitate, trying to find the courage to broach the subject. “Do you think, and you can say no, that you might want to go visit my nana with us this weekend? We try to see her once a month, but I skipped last month and I’m feeling terrible about it.”
I leave out that I’ve been so caught up in Jude that I’d forgotten.
“I’d love to. It can be a practice road trip. Maybe I can convince you that the world outside Port Townsend is not as terrifying a place as you think it is.”
I swallow against the lump in my throat. Seattle doesn’t scare me, but the memories waiting around every corner in that city do.
Jude doesn’t seem to notice my preoccupation. “We’ll get out of your hair.”
Before I react he kisses me in front of the whole restaurant. Max sees and smiles widely. I shoo them both out, too flustered by the public display of affection to reprimand him.
“He’s getting bold,” Amie calls from the kitchen, “Isn’t that against rule number two?”
I can tell exactly what she thinks of my rules. “Yeah, it is,” I grumble.
“Hey, cheer up, Sunshine,” she says, calling me by his pet name. “It just means you make him want to break the rules.”
I disappear into the office to be alone with my thoughts. I know better than most that rules are there for a reason.
“Oh, sugar, we missed you!” Maggie cries out when we arrive at the home on Saturday. She pulls Max into a tight bear hug.
“I know, I’m terrible. We got busy and I didn’t make it up here last month.” The guilt that has been building inside me for the last few weeks pours out of me.
“Don’t go beating yourself up,” Maggie says. “You’re here now and that’s all that matters.”
The front door opens behinds me and Maggie’s eyes widen appreciatively when Jude steps in from parking the car. He pulls off his sunglasses and clips them to the neck of his blue t-shirt.
“Maggie, this is Jude.” I’m still a bit rusty on introductions, but I leave out particulars. Whatever conclusion she draws about me bringing a man here is probably the right one.
“I’m glad to meet you.” He holds out his hand.
“It is so very nice to meet you.” Maggie bypasses his outstretched hand and hugs him. “I’ve been praying that Miss Faith would bring a man.”
Max saves me from hearing how long she’s been praying for me by grabbing my hand, then he grabs Jude’s. He hauls us along, showing Jude off to everyone in the community room. More than a few of the old ladies fan themselves deliberately.
“I hadn’t counted on being this embarrassed,” I say to Jude under my breath. “I can only imagine what they’re thinking.”
At about the same time one of the older men winks. “I think they’re getting the right idea about us,” Jude responds, and I smack him playfully.
Today Nana is facing the window when we come in.
“Hi, Nana,” I call out to her, “I brought Max and a friend to visit.”
She turns slowly, her eyes narrowing. “Who are you?”
Maggie bustles into the room behind us, grim determination settling over her face. “Now, Marilyn. This is your granddaughter, Faith, and your great grandson, Max, and they brought a friend.”
“I don’t know her,” Nana repeats.
“It’s me, Nana.” I bend down and try to take her hand, but she pulls away.
“Grace?” she asks.
I suck in a steadying breath. “Faith,” I correct her.
“Where’s Grace?” she asks, looking around the room for her.
“I’m sorry, she’s not here.” I stand up, completely flustered. The room closes in on me and I fiddle with a button on my jacket. “Maybe we should go.”
But Jude takes the seat across from Nana.
“Who are you?” She eyes him suspiciously.
“My name is Jude, ma’am.”
“You won’t find any money for drugs here,” she tells him, “I hid it all away. I can’t trust my girls.”
“You can trust her,” Jude says gently, “And you can trust me.”
“Hmm.” Nana settles back into her chair and begins to rock. “That’s what she says every time. That’s what Faith says every time and then the TV goes missing.”
“Maggie, will you take Max to visit down in the community room?”
She nods and takes him by the shoulders. He’s too young to understand exactly what’s wrong with Nana and he probably finds our conversation confusing. At least I hope that’s all he gets out of it.
“The TV is down in the community room. Nobody stole it,” I tell Nana,
“Don’t sass me, little girl, you are always sassing me.”
It should be an improvement that she recognizes who I am, but it isn’t.
“Faith tells me that you used to live up in Seattle,” Jude tries to strike up a conversation, but Nana isn’t having it.
“You won’t distract me. I’ve got my eye on the both of you.” After a few more minutes of accusations I walk out the door. Jude’s right behind me.