Page 78 of Small Town Frenzy
“Cricket. Grandma Grange said that when you find it, you’ll know it. She’s the love that’s been missing from your dish.”
“And my dish is my life?”
Waving his hand carelessly as he moves to the truck’s door, he replies, “Something like that. It’s a dash of this and a pinch of that, but I’m not sure how it all works. Cricket’s the ingredient you’ve been missing.” He opens the truck and climbs inside.
I might need a few minutes to process what this kid just laid out for me. The success of his prediction continues. Welp, good to know the universe is behind us. After I drive Beckett home, I get back in the truck, still thinking about what he said. My sister is right about his abilities. It aligns the thoughts I was already having but hadn’t revealed to anyone. Before I head back to the house, I text my girl:Want to bring Jacob over for dinner at the house tonight?
It’s early, just after four, so she’s probably still working. A message pops up along with my smile:We’d love to.
CHAPTER 32
Cricket
“Wait for Mommy, Jacob?”
Famous last words.He’s holding his cowboy hat on his head, making a mad dash around the back corner of the house before I’ve had a chance to lock the vehicle. I rush after him since Griffin has made this house his mission, and the back has become a construction zone.
Before I pass his truck, Griffin steps out with Jacob already in his arms. “Missing something?”
I smile from just everything. “Seems you found it.”
“I think he found me. I was up on the ladder. He was three rungs up before I had to jump off and grab him to impede his progress.” He picks Jacob up under his arms and holds him out to the side like a stinky shoe just so he can give me a kiss without him catching us.
I giggle and then lick my lips before he brings Jacob around to face me again. Setting him down, he says, “Hey, Champ, I found some old spray paint in the garage.” Heglances at me. “I was thinking we could do art on this wood I pulled off the wall. What do you think?”
“I think he’d love it.”
Turning back to Jacob, he says, “Your mom said yes.”
“Yes!” Jacob fist pumps the air and then bumps Griffin’s hand. He grabs Griffin’s hand and starts tugging him toward the back again.
What a goofball Griffin is, acting like this kid is yanking him. It’s so adorable that my heart melts. Following them, I take it wide around the back to get a look at the changes. My feet come to an abrupt halt, almost jerking me forward. New boards are littered throughout the back siding, the shutters are down, paint colors are being sampled at the far end, and the porch is covered in fresh stain. “How did you get so much done in the past few days?”
His casual shrug doesn’t cover his tremendous progress. “I have time on my hands.”
“Are you going to renovate this whole house by yourself?”
Standing a few feet away, he turns back to look at the house again as if he’s not decided. “I’ll do what I can. I’m not an electrician or plumber, and I don’t plan to acquire those skills. I prefer to leave those things to the professionals. Baylor, Tagger, my dad, and even Beckett have been out here to survey the damage and offered to help with the other stuff.”
I walk over to where they are. Griffin has boards laid out flat in the grass, rows stacked on top of each other. Spray cans line one side and are color coordinated from brightest to darkest. I won’t mention it, but I do think it’s cute that he did that. “I love how your family does so much for each other.”
“That’s what families d—” The comment was so naturaland off the cuff, but he catches himself, and I know why. My family doesn’t do that. Jacob’s Dover side doesn’t. It makes me grateful to connect with Jacob’s other side of the family even more. Not that I needed a reason when I have Griffin right in front of me.
Now if I can only convince him to start staying over at mine at night . . . I get his hesitation. My family. Enough said.
Kneeling away from me, he sits back to rub the back of my leg. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. You’re not wrong. That is what families should do. Instead, mine is more divided than ever.” Do I drag our business out into the open? It’s not something I’ve ever done before. The Dovers are vaults when it comes to family secrets. It’s probably why we know so little about each other. So freaking sad. Another reason to be so thankful I have Savvy in my life. We can tell each other anything. Though I haven’t talked to her about my brother and his plans. No particular reason, other than I was waiting to hear from him again. He doesn’t seem to be making plans to jump ship yet, so I’m not rocking this boat by bringing it up.
“Orange,” Jacob says, getting up from the grass and running to grab the can. He hands it to Griffin. “Show me.” He’s having a ball. I’m just happy for the distraction.
Griffin clips something to the nozzle and hands it to Jacob. “You squeeze this handle with both hands, and it will spray paint everywhere. Remember what I told you when we came over here?”
“Keep the paint on the canvas. What’s the canvas?”
“The wood.” Griffin taps it. “This is the canvas. Okay?”
Jacob squeezes, hitting him right on the arm. “Not thecanvas,” he says, his mouth flattening as he turns slowly away as if Griffin won’t notice.
