Page 86 of A Summer Mismatch
He looked at the time her message was left. Friday night. His stomach dropped as he looked at his calendar. It was Friday. An entire week ago. Was Winnie okay? He hadn’t heard anything from anyone about it. But he hadn’t been available for anyone to talk to him, either.
He opened up his text messages next when he saw Julia’s name at the top.
Julia:I’m sorry to bother you. Kai told us about Adia on Tuesday. We’re praying for her and for you.
Julia:I just saw on Instagram that Adia is doing so much better! I’m so relieved.
Julia:I’m sorry to keep bothering you. I swear this is the last time. I finished my book. I emailed it to you. If you don’t have time to read it, no worries.
Just reading through her texts made him ache for her. He’d gone nearly his entire life without knowing her, but in just a week of not seeing her, he felt the emptiness acutely. He’d been so caught up in Adia and her health that he’d been able to put everything that had happened to the back of his mind, but now, it was all there in one rush of longing.
He scrolled down to see that his grandpa had texted as well. Since when did Grandpa text?
Grandpa:Hello, Logan. I’ve tried calling but it goes right to voicemail. So do Nonna’s calls. We’d like you to answer your phone. I’m sorry for my part in ruining the Watermelon Gala. Love, Grandpa Smitty.
Despite his worry over Julia and Winnie, Logan couldn’t help but smile at his grandpa’s formal text. But what did he mean, his part in ruining the gala?
Logan looked at the clock. Julia was still in class until after lunch, so he’d have to wait to call her.
In the meantime, he sent a quick text to his grandpa and Nonna.
Logan:It’s been a crazy week. Adia is doing well. I’ll call you this afternoon, but I need to do something first. I heard Winnie was sick. Is she okay?
Nonna:Winnie’s blood pressure was causing her problems, but she’s doing well now. Why don’t you come over tonight, and I’ll make you a nice Italian dinner. We miss you.
Logan:I don’t want you to go to any trouble for dinner. And I need to check on Adia.
Grandpa:Check on Adia, and then come eat with us. We’ll wait.
Grandpa:*devil emoji*
Grandpa:*cry-face emoji*
Nonna:What in the world are you doing, Smitty?
Grandpa:I’m trying to send him a smiley face! My fingers keep hitting the wrong ones.
Nonna:It’s up at the top right.
Grandpa:Oh, I see it.
Grandpa:*heart-eye emoji*
Logan:Are you in the same room together, texting to each other?
Grandpa:Yes. This is something we do now.
Nonna:Like all the young kids do.
Grandpa:Next up… Jiffs.
Nonna:It’s GIFs. Hard G.
Grandpa:I don’t think so.
Logan laughed as his grandparents continued to argue about how GIF should be pronounced, and it felt good. Like everything was going to be okay somehow. Though he didn’t know what the future held, nor could he control it, just knowing he had people who loved him was enough.
Logan broke into their argument to tell him he’d be there by six, and then opened his email and found the file for Julia’s book.
