Page 65 of Five Alarm Love
“No need to scare the guy, Grandma.He’s only looking out for Lou.”
“By trampling on you?”
Seemed to be the thing to do these days.
Tuli unclenched his jaw and gave a nonchalant shrug that he tried to believe.“So, everything okay with you?Health-wise, things all right?”
“You always were good at subject changes.”
“One of my many amazing skills.”
“Tsk.Humility is another one.”
Tuli laughed out loud.Grandma was cheeky when riled up.
She stretched her legs out, stretchy pants on, socks in sandals, in front of her.“Saw Dr.Moore earlier this week.My lungs are doing well.No sign of lingering problems from the infection this spring.”
“Hey, I saw that woodpile you’re making out back.You should let me do that.”
“You’re too busy with your firefighting and work at the deli and the cameras.”
“I always have time to help you.”Not really, but he’d make time.
“You’re a good boy.”
He clamped his teeth together.Good boy.He had heard that phrase from his dad once when Tuli was four.He was twenty-six and still craved the support of family.He would have given anything to have living parents who were healthy and sober.Grandma had filled the parenting gaps admirably and with love.Unfortunately, she seemed to think he was still in elementary school.
“So, what’s your plan?”she asked.
“About what?”
Her graying brows shot up.“About the girl!”
“She’s also not a girl.We are the same age.Both adults.”
Grandma gave another noncommittaltsk.“Fine.Then, adult-to-adult, what are you doing?She seems like a nice… lady.”
“She is.”Tuli paused.“I believe we might be in a relationship.”
“What does that even mean?I believe I might flydoesn’t mean ‘you’re going to sprout wings and take off.”She peered at him.“‘In a relationship.’Is that like going steady?”
He laughed.Grandma’s seventy-five-year-old memory was sharp.She must have been a firecracker back in the day.She’d given Grandpa a run for his money when he was alive.“Sure.Going steady works.”
“Her family better be good to you.”
“They will be fine.”
“Well, you be good to her.”
“I’m always good!”
“You always get away with too much.”Grandma smiled and let out a sigh.“She’s lucky to have such a nice boy—man—in her life.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Less than twenty-fourhours after the tense family dinner, Lou shoved her whirling thoughts to the side as she parked the ambulance at the scene of the accident on Main Street.Oh, yikes.
Car versus timber hauler, and the hauler looked no worse for the wear.
