Page 47 of Loved By Tandy

It’slate in the day when I get back to my place. And my grandson Eli is waiting.

“Eli, what brings you around today?” I stop beside his truck.

He opens the back door and gets Trixie out of her car seat. “Delaney is having dinner with a friend, so Trixie and I decided to surprise you. I hope we aren’t crashing any of your plans.”

“Not at all. Come on in.” I hang my hat near the door and turn on lights as I walk to the kitchen. “Let me wash these grubby hands. Then I want to hold that little cutie.”

Eli hands her over, then hops up onto the counter. Memories of a much younger Eli sitting there as Catherine bakes cookies flash in my mind.

Trixie stares at me, trying to decide if she likes me. She’s very much a daddy’s girl, and when she is with anyone other than Eli and Delaney, she wants to have them in her line of sight.

She whips her head around, spots Eli on the counter, then smiles at me. That makes my night. She’s a doll.

“Have you eaten? I can whip something up.”

“We already ate. If I’d known you hadn’t, I would’ve brought something for you. I’m sorry.”

“I’m good. I want to hold her while she’s happy to see me. I’ll eat later.” I dig the measuring spoons out of the drawer, then perch on a barstool near the island. When I hand the spoons to Trixie, her smile widens, and the drumming begins.

Laughing, Eli shakes his head. “I’m not sure why I even buy toys.” He slides off the counter and grabs a drink from the fridge. “Is Tandy better?”

“She’s better. Thanks for taking stuff over there the other day. I appreciate it.” I slap a hand on the counter to the rhythmof Trixie’s drumming, and that draws a laugh from her. So I do it again. “Did you get sent over here to see what I’m up to?”

“Nah. Just felt like coming over. I mean, I was surprised when you first started hanging out with Tandy because y’all avoided each other. But now you’re not avoiding each other. It happens. And when she isn’t asking guys to take off their shirt, she’s pretty nice.”

A laugh bursts out of me, and Trixie shivers with surprise. Her bottom lip pokes out, and she scans for her daddy.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to startle you. But your daddy is a funny guy.” I tap a measuring spoon on the counter.

Her gaze darts from her daddy to the spoon, then the banging resumes.

“Tandy is nice. And funny. I enjoy the time I spend with her.”

“Granddad, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I’m happy for you. When Zach and I met up for lunch the other day, he commented on it too. We like seeing you smiling. Happy. I think Tandy is a big part of that.”

“She is. I loved your grandmother with all my heart, and I don’t want y’all to think I’m trying to erase or replace her memory.”

“It was obvious that you loved her. No one thinks you are trying to erase or replace her. You can live your life without any guilt, Granddad.”

In my heart, I knew my grandsons would react this way, but hearing it out loud helps. I’m less sure that my children will feel the same way.

Trixie throws the spoons onto the ground, then looks at me and points at the floor.

“Uh-oh. I don’t think I’m going to like this game.” I pick them up and hand the spoons back to her.

Grinning, she tosses them down again.

Eli chuckles as he picks them up. “Don’t do that to your grampy. He doesn’t want to be bending down to get the spoons. What about your drum solo?” He sets his Coke can far away from her. “I’m going to run out to the truck and grab her bag and little seat. I’ll give her a snack while you eat.”

“Just hurry because as soon as you are out of sight, she’s going to wail.”

“I’ll be right back, baby girl.” Eli heads to the door.

Trixie’s eyes widen in horror as he gets farther away. There are tears brimming in her eyes when she meets my gaze.

“He’ll only be gone a minute. And I’ll keep you safe, sweetheart. Grampy loves you.”

She leans forward and rests her head on my shoulder, which makes me wish I were a master of taking selfies. This is a moment I’d love to have proof of.

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