Page 30 of Royal Agenda

“That’s up to you.” Grace paused, something akin to jealousy tugging at her heart. Diego was a very nice man, the kind who honestly tried to do what God wanted him to do. When he spoke about Jesus to his small congregation, he was sincere in his love for the Lord. If Celeste truly fell in love with him, she’d have found a gem in a world of fakes. “If you need a maid of honor, I’m happy to fly back down there.”

She giggled again. “I may take you up on that. Don’t worry about the photos—they’ll be my best work yet.”

“I’m sure they will.” They said goodbye and hung up.

Grandma fluffed the last pillow and laid it just so. She brushed off her palms as she regarded her work and then nodded with approval. “What is this about having employees? You never said you were starting a company.” She waited expectantly for an answer.

Grace tucked her phone in her pocket. “It wasn’t intentional. I mean, I don’t have a company.”

“But you just warned that person about having a romantic relationship with another employee.”

Grace blinked. She may have a hole in her heart, but nothing was wrong with Grandma’s hearing. “Some of the projects I take on need skills I don’t have—specialists. I contract with them and make it happen. No payroll, employment taxes, or any of the hassle. So, no company.”

“If it looks like a flamingo and eats shrimp like a flamingo . . .” Grandma muttered.

Grace’s mind ran through the conversation, and she couldn’t help but notice how similar it sounded to many of the conversations she’d overheard Grandma Nancy have with her employees when she interned at Nancy’s Niceties in the summers. “Maybe this apple didn’t fall that far from the tree after all.” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She chaffed in an office environment. She didn’t have the patience for office politics or drama.

A lone wolf. That’s what Grandma called her.

A butterfly who flitted from flower to flower, which didn’t sound like a compliment.

“Are you ready for lunch?” Grandma asked. “Today is braised beef with ravioli, and you can’t miss Cocoa’s individual-sized carrot cakes.” She kissed her fingers.

Grace took one more longing look at the beach. It had been too long since she’d had quiet time with nature.

As much as she wanted to get out there and feel her soul expand over the ocean, she was dressed to turn heads in a cream-colored knee-length dress with wide sleeves and stitching in red, blue, and yellow. She’d taken time to curl her long hair into beach waves and applied eyeliner and mascara. Ryker could be around any corner, and she looked forward to seeing him again. More than looking forward to it. That man was a craving for chocolate after three days of fasting. If going to lunch brought her closer to sampling his green gaze, then Grandma would have to hold her back. “I’m ready when you are. Just let me grab my sandals.”

They went through the house and out the front door. It was amazing how cute Grandma’s pink bungalow looked without Stephán in it and with the van gone. She’d need to buy a car but in this small town, walking was preferable. If they were going farther, Grandma would check out or borrow a golf cart.

“At some point, we need to go to the Surf Shop,” she said as they walked. “Elizabeth says they have the best line of swimsuits there.” Ever since their shopping trip, Grace had the strangest urge to pull her fashion sense out and parade it around. Sure, she had professional attire she pulled out for conferences and dresses reserved for church, but she wanted to take it up a notch. And no, a certain barber with a sculpted beard and shoulders strong enough to carry babies, her, and a lifetime of happiness didn’t have anything to do with it.

Okay, maybe he had a little to do with it. He was so put together, from the shine on his leather shoes to the rich, tantalizing scent on his skin. Ryker exuded this sense that he knew his place in the universe, his mission in life. She wanted some of that. The confidence and the man. Because finding a man like him was more difficult than finding a diamond in the rough or a yellow submarine.

Grandma lit up at the topic of The Surf Shop. “Chad’s done well bringing in fashionable swimwear. Even the locals stop there now.” The pride in her voice was evident, making Grace think she had more to do with the business operations that she let on.

They made their way up to the main building. In the lobby, Aaron was putting a harness on Sweetie the alligator.

“Hi.” Grace stopped to run her hand along the animal’s side. She curved into the touch as if Grace tickled her. Grace smiled.

Aaron nodded to her. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You too.”

“Come on, Grace.” Grandma waved her along. “Lunch is waiting.”

Grace said a quick goodbye to Sweetie and followed Grandma into the dining room. The back wall was made of glass-covered doors that lead out to the pool area. There was a shallow pool with a playground for young children, a lazy river, and a large pool with a – “Is that a movie screen?” she asked.

Grandma made a beeline for two chairs near her friends. “They play movies on Friday nights. It’s fun.”

“You’ve been?” Grace asked, aghast. She could barely get Grandma into a dress, let alone a swimming pool.

Grandma came up short. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Grace lowered her eyebrows. “Because you don’t go to movies. You told me they were a waste of time, and if you wanted a good story, you’d read a book.”

Grandma pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “It’s not just the movie, it’s time with people and . . .” she paused. “Maybe I should have made more time for things like that.” She tapped over her heart. “Maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”

Grace wrapped her arm around her. “I’m glad you found something you enjoy doing with your friends.” She squeezed and then let her go.

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