Page 19 of Threads of Kindness
“I’ll walk you to your car and pick you up at your place at 6:15, if that’s all right.”
“Perfect,” she said, crossing to her computer. “I’ll log off and tidy up these papers, and then we’ll leave.”
“What are you working on?” he asked.
“Plans for my new museum,” she said, arching an eyebrow at him. “I’d love to tell you about them.”
“And I can’t wait to hear,” he said. Gordon picked up her coat from the back of the chair where she had dropped it and held it for her.
They stepped into the late afternoon sunshine, locked the door, and strolled arm in arm to Anita’s car.
CHAPTER 9
Maggie secured her seatbelt and twisted to look at the object in the back of John’s Suburban that filled the entire space. A moving blanket concealed its identity.
“I can’t wait to see what’s back there,” she said to John. “I didn’t know you had a surprise gift for Julia. We’ve got these two Disney princess costumes for her.” She patted the two packages wrapped in Santa Claus paper that she held on her lap.
“I think a grandpa should have a few tricks up his sleeve,” John said, clearly enjoying his secret.
“I can’t believe you’ve been driving around town with whatever it is back there since Christmas,” Maggie said. “You could have stored it in the garage. I wouldn’t have peeked!”
John slid his eyes to hers and raised a skeptical eyebrow before backing out of the garage.
“What?” Maggie asked, laughing. “I wouldn’t have!”
“Maybe not. I want everyone to see it at the same time, is all.”
“Won’t you need a hand moving it into their house?”
“Aaron will help me,” John said. “He already knows.”
“No way!” Maggie erupted.
“Simmer down,” John chuckled. “As I said, I want you and Susan to see it when Julia does.”
Maggie squeezed his hand. His obvious infatuation with their granddaughter warmed her heart beyond measure.
They rode in companionable silence until John turned onto Susan and Aaron’s street and backed into their driveway.
“I’ll go inside to greet Susan and Julia,” Maggie said. “I’ll send Aaron out here to help you. If that little girl sees her grandpa—her favorite person on the planet—you’ll never shake her off long enough to get this thing inside.”
“Great idea,” John said. “Aaron and I will have it set up in her room in five minutes. Ten tops. I appreciate you running interference for me.”
Maggie leaned across the console and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I’m happy to be your wingman anytime.” She got out of the car and entered the house through the unlocked front door.
“Hey, everybody!” Maggie called as she stepped inside. She unwound her scarf from her neck and tossed it and her coat on a chair in the entryway. The warm, fragrant aroma of roasting beef and freshly baked bread enveloped her.
“In the kitchen!” Susan called.
“Grammy!” Julia cried from the family room, where she was reading a book with Aaron.
Maggie joined them and opened her arms as the little girl flung herself into them.
“Will you show me the book you’re looking at?” Maggie asked, hugging her close. “Reading is one of my favorite things to do.” She sat on the sofa and scooped Julia onto her lap.
Maggie and Aaron exchanged a look, and he nodded.
“Daddy’s got something to do,” Aaron said. “Can Grammy finish reading to you?”
