Page 62 of The Kiss Keeper
The hint of a smile pulled at the corners of her grandmother’s lips. “An admirable quality, indeed,” the woman answered, then clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Ladies, the flowers have arrived. Let’s get started on those leis.”
Natalie went to work, and the room buzzed with conversations as the women strung flowers and made final additions to their skirts when her grandmother sat down next to her.
“He cares for you,” she said, sliding a bloom into her hair.
“Who?” Natalie asked, keeping her eyes on the lei. If anyone could read her, it was her grandma Bev.
“Jake, who else, sweetheart?” her grandmother answered, handing her a flower.
Natalie took the bloom and slid it into her hair. She needed to change the subject. It was one thing to parade her fake boyfriend around camp. It was a whole other bag of wax to lie to her grandmother’s face.
“I’m glad you and Grandpa have gathered us here to celebrate your fiftieth anniversary. I’ve missed this place so much.”
Bev threaded a flower onto a string. “You found your artist roots here many moons ago.”
“I did, thanks to you,” she replied. It was like old times, creating art alongside her grandmother, even if it was only a lei.
Her grandmother stroked one of the hibiscus petals. “Oh, no. I may have guided you in that direction, but you’ve always had the artist’s spark. That gift to see the beauty in everything and everyone.”
Natalie glanced over at Leslie and Lara, both women glued to their phones, then turned her attention back to her grandmother.
“I don’t know if I see the beauty in everything, but you and Grandpa have never look at me like I’m a…” she trailed off.
Bev set down the lei. “A what?”
“A failure,” she answered.
Her grandmother’s brows knit together. “Is that how you see yourself?”
Natalie sighed. “Well, I’ve got no job and no boy—” she stopped herself. “You must know that I lost another job. I texted it to Mom, and then it hit the Woolwich stratosphere.”
“Maybe it happened for a reason. You never know when opportunity will come knocking on your door,” her grandmother said with a twinkle in her eyes.
Natalie squeezed the woman’s hand. “How do you stay so optimistic? After all the years running Camp Woolwich, it couldn’t have always been easy.”
“Oh, it wasn’t, but the universe led me to your grandfather and brought us to this place. So, I’d say I’m pretty lucky,” her grandmother replied.
“And I’d agree.”
The women startled at the voice behind them.
“What are you doing in here, Hal?” her grandmother asked.
“I’m here to escort the prettiest girl to the luau,” he said, taking her grandmother’s hand.
“What about me?” Annabelle pouted.
“I meant the two prettiest girls,” he answered, scooping up the little girl in his other arm.
“Are you sure you’ve got her?” her grandmother asked, eyeing her husband.
“I’m fine, Bev,” he answered gently, then made Annabelle laugh with a silly face.
“All right, Woolwich women, let’s head over to the lobster bake luau,” her grandma Bev announced.
“Are you coming, Aunt Nat?” Josie called over her shoulder.
Natalie glanced around. She could use a Woolwich-free minute to collect herself. “I’m going to tidy up a little in here. I won’t be long.”
