Page 39 of The Vineyard Bride

After the bird disappeared, Grandpa Wes and Beatrice dropped their binoculars back to their chests, gripped hands, and laughed with excitement.

“We can’t be too loud!”Beatrice hissed after that.“We’ll chase the rest of the birds away.”

“I know.I know.I just can’t contain my excitement,” Wes returned, his hand still latched around hers.“I wish Kellan could have seen her.”

“Me too.But it’s just like I told you.He needs to spend more time with guys his own age, otherwise, he’ll never really figure out who he is,” Beatrice offered kindly.

Wes bowed his head knowingly.“I’m glad I have another friend as interested in bird watching as me, Beatrice.”

From where Amanda sat, she could make out the ruby-red tint of Beatrice’s cheeks.Amanda could hardly breathe, as she didn’t want to give herself away for spying.After another moment more, Grandpa Wes pointed himself back into the woods between the Frampton and Sheridan Houses and hissed, “Come on.It’s a bit cooler now.The birds will be more active.The trail over here should be safe for your cane.”

“It’s just fine,” Beatrice affirmed, walking confidently behind him.“I’m just so glad to be out of that stupid wheelchair.”

“I’ve had my fair share of time in a wheelchair, myself,” Grandpa Wes returned.“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.It’s like you’re trapped.”

Amanda remained on the edge of the porch, watching as they slipped deeper into the woods.The noise of their conversation diminished, as well, leaving Amanda only in the comfortable silence of the Sheridan House— a silence that wasn’t truly silence, with its creaking floorboards and its screeching porch swing.

Was it possible that Grandpa Wes was courting this woman?

Amanda dropped back on the swing, pressing her hand across her heart.Seeing the two together made her heart swell with happiness.

“Is anyone here?”Sam’s voice rang out from the back of the Sheridan House.

“On the porch!”Amanda called.

Sam’s strides made the inner house creak.When he appeared in the crack of the doorway, he came wine bottle first, Sam second.His smile was crooked and endearing, only faltering when Amanda leaped up to kiss him.

“Are you the only one here?”he asked, genuinely surprised.

“I know.It’s crazy,” Amanda returned, drawing him toward the swing and then pointing his attention toward the waterline, where Beatrice and Wes re-emerged to scour for birds.“But there’s a really beautiful reality television show playing down there.”

Sam laughed as he uncorked the wine bottle.“You’re kidding.What’s the show called?”

“It’s called‘The Bird Watchers: Are They Looking for Birds?Or Each Other?’”

“It’s a long title,” Sam affirmed.“We need something catchy like ‘Below Deck’ or ‘Selling Sunsets.’”

“Okay.What about ‘Lovewatching’?”

“Not bad,” Sam said, still laughing.“Think it’s okay that your grandfather doesn’t know he’s on a reality television show?”

“I think it’s better we don’t tell him.It could go to his head.”

Sam passed Amanda a glass of wine, and together, they burrowed close, cuddling as they watched Grandpa Wes and Beatrice lift their fingers toward the sky and point out bird after bird.Amanda’s heart seized with longing and gratefulness.

Everyone deserves a love like this, she thought.

---