Page 32 of A Summer Mismatch
“And afterward, while your grandpa comes back to rest for a bit, there’s Reading Buddies over at the library.”
“Reading buddies?” Logan asked.
“Yes. It’s a club where children come and read with the elderly. Samantha, the activities director, told me that for some of them, it’s the only visitor they get all week. Leo and Amelia will love it.”
Logan was skeptical. Sure, they loved reading, but the beach was right there and it was a hot day, perfect for swimming. “I read them a couple of books earlier today.”
“Logan, trust me.” Nonna pierced him with herI won’t take no for an answerglare. He was powerless under that stare.
“Okay, okay.” He held up his hands in teasing surrender. “Leo, Amelia, do you want to go risk your lives with an alligator and then read?”
“Yay!” Leo called out and scrambled off of Grandpa’s knee to grab his day pack while Amelia carefully pushed away from the table and followed him.
Grandpa stood with a groan. “Did I hear something about a rest?”
“After lunch,” Nonna said. “Now let’s go before all the good seats are gone.”
And before Logan could clarify which seats were the good ones, they were ushered out the door.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Julia
Theair-conditionerintheschool van had decided to take an early retirement—right as they were entering the very hottest time of the year.
Julia’s head pulsed as the hot air blowing through her open window mixed with the humidity, leaving her feeling like she was wading in a swamp. And having fifteen increasingly sweaty and smelly kids in the van with her was not helping anything.
She pulled into the main parking lot of The Palms, and the kids burst out like biscuit dough from a can. Julia’s hair stuck to her neck and she lifted it, wishing she’d thought to bring a hair tie.
She and Cameron were going swimming that afternoon, she decided. That thought was going to get her through the day.
The kids all stopped to ooh and ahh at Sweetie, who was being closely managed by Aaron. He always came by for Reading Buddies, nervous at the idea of a bunch of kids crawling around Sweetie. Today, Sweetie was wearing a Little Red Riding Hood ensemble, and Bear was dressed as a grandma with an apron and sleeping cap.
“Foiled again,” Julia teased Aaron. When she’d interviewed him for her children’s book about Sweetie, he’d divulged that he had no idea who was dressing Sweetie up in costumes. And that, despite his best efforts, he kept finding her like this.
“At least this one will be easy to take off,” he said. Sweetie’s costume consisted of a red cape that could easily be untied. “But I’ll wait until the kids leave.”
All of the kids waved goodbye to Sweetie and blew kisses to her, and then they walked across the bridge over Paradise Lake, and entered the blessedly cool reception area of The Palms Library. Katherine, the librarian, met them at the front and led them to the huge meeting space where they held Reading Buddies. This library was one of Julia’s favorite places in all of Diamond Cove.
Comfortable chairs and couches, perfect for sitting side by side to read, were artfully placed around the room. Cameron walked in with Grandma, holding two books. One about elephants that she’d found at the indie bookstore and her book about Sweetie, which was Cameron’s personal favorite. He saw Don, and after a quick, reluctant hug for Julia, he beelined it to Don before any of the other kids did. If someone else sat with Don, Cameron would stand there and stare at them until they moved.
“I’m going to go chat with someone,” Grandma whispered, and Julia nodded.
Once the kids zoomed to their favorite adopted grandparent reading buddy, Julia counted heads to make sure she wasn’t missing anyone. Everyone was accounted for, which couldn’t be said for other weeks. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to get distracted with Bear, The Palms resident golden retriever, or on the bridge. Usually she had another teacher helping her, but it seemed the teachers at school were dropping like flies, and it was just her again.
“Excuse me,” a little voice said. Julia turned, surprised to see two little kids she hadn’t met before standing right behind her.
“I’m Amelia, and this is Leo,” the older girl said. “We’re here to read.”
“If that’s okay.” Julia’s head whipped up to see Logan standing a few feet back from the kids. He wore swim trunks and a T-shirt, and a worn Florida State hat. His tiny dimple showed in his cheek as he smiled at her.
After they’d texted last night, she’d laid awake for another hour, just grinning and thinking about how much she liked Logan. Then frowning because she shouldn’t like Logan. And on and on it went until she picked up her habits self-help book and fell asleep trying to read another chapter. “Of course it’s okay. The more the merrier.”
“This is my niece and nephew,” Logan explained. “Nonna thought they might like Reading Buddies.”
“Everyone likes Reading Buddies.” Julia glanced around the room and found a couple of Grandma’s friends there without a partner. She led them to Polly and Walt.
“How would you feel about partnering up to read today?”
