Page 51 of Royal Agenda

“Samantha?!” Betty called from the door. “You’re replacement driver brought a chicken. She says it’s tame and calls it Kyle.”

Samantha hurried off without saying goodbye. Now that the room had cleared—except for Missy, the receptionist who was on the phone—it was much quieter. Ryker sidled up next to her and hooked their pinkies together. “You came to see me, si?”

“No.” She turned to face him, their bodies so close she could smell his citrus aftershave. “I’m having lunch with Grandma, Elizabeth, and Chad.” In a moment of clarity and excitement she asked, “Do you want to join us?” She held her breath.

It was one thing for him to know Grandma Nancy, she lived here, but introducing him to her sister from out of town and her sister’s fiancé was a big step. One she hadn’t known she was ready to take with Ryker until that very moment. If he refused, she’d know where they stood in the relationship department. I love yous, and late-night kisses were allowed–family was a whole other level.

“I would love to.” He leaned down and pressed his cheek to hers, “But I would love to be alone with you more, la mia sirena.”

“Allettante,” tempting, she replied. Boy, was it ever. Images of broom closet kisses filled her mind, and she had to step back to take a deep breath. He maintained his hold on her hand as they went to the dining room.

Grace tried to calm her frantic heart. They were doing this. They were taking the next step in their relationship. It was . . . big. Bigger than she’d thought when the words flew out of her mouth. Connecting her family and Ryker together was cosmic big. Big picture big. Life AND death big.

Grandma, Elizabeth, and Chad were at a table by the far wall. Don breezed by carrying two trays. His wife, Amelia, was in the last stages of Alzheimer’s, and bringing her to the dining room had become too taxing on her body; Grandma had told her about it last night. He’d taken to picking up their meals and feeding her at home. Their story was a true love story for the ages. Grandma had gone over to eat with them yesterday, and Rosa was going today. Grandma’s friends treated Amelia as if she was part of their group and a dear friend.

She and Ryker threaded through the tables. “Good to see you two,” said Harry. Virginia waved, her mouth full.

They replied and continued on. Cocoa stopped them with the dessert tray. “Don’t forget to try the walnut cake. It’s my latest concoction, and I think you’ll like it.”

“Thanks.” Grace grinned as she accepted a plate with a piece of cake. Ryker glanced over his shoulder at her. She lifted the plate. “Normally, I’d save dessert for last, but I may have to make an exception for this.”

The greetings continued as they walked. Grace was surprised at how many faces and names were familiar. She taught three genealogy classes every week, each one more popular than the last. If this trend continued, she’d have to open up another section. Which wouldn’t bother her in the least. Teaching the residents was a far cry from teaching teenagers! They were eager to learn, delighted in every family connection made, and worked on their own time to make progress. Not to mention, they were grateful and complimentary. She always left the class feeling appreciated.

The back door flew open, and Mack breezed in. She hadn’t seen him since that fateful day in the barbershop. Ryker often texted his friends, and it didn’t go unnoticed that he hadn’t offered to double date with them. When she asked, he laughed and said that they didn’t date. They just worked. She let it slide, because she was living in the now-bubble. But it was one of the things that popped up when she had three seconds to herself.

Mack stepped in front of Ryker, who’d been talking to a gentleman who had stopped him to ask about finding a new scalp lotion and didn’t see him come in.

Grace smiled at Mack. “Hey, it’s go–.”

“I need a haircut, bro,” Mack said as he landed a large hand on Ryker’s shoulder. His brogue had thickened, and his words were barely discernible to the people sitting around them. He seemed to have widened too—his shoulders huge and his chest puffed out. He didn’t look at Ryker, but scanned the dining room going this way and then that way.

“Now?” Grace asked, surprised by his bluntness. “We were just sitting down to lunch. You’re welcome to—”

“No, thanks, wee hen,” he cut her off–again. This time, he winked.

She blinked in surprise. His tone was kind, friendly even. And he used a nickname–so that meant he liked her. Right?

Mack turned abruptly and walked out.

Maybe not?

Ryker’s hand slipped from hers as he followed. She stared in shock as they went out the back door, not once looking back.

Grace’s mouth hung open. “Did he just steal my date?” she asked no one in particular. “For a haircut?” That rankled.

She shook off the shock and looked around to see if anyone else noticed the strange occurrence. Everyone ate and talked as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Maybe in their world, it hadn’t, but she’d never had her date yanked away by his friends for an emergency haircut. What was that about? Mack’s hair was fine. He hadn’t looked unkempt. His hair looked like he’d spent an hour styling it that morning.

Making her way to the table, she put on a smile to greet her sister’s fiancé for the first time.

Elizabeth jumped up and hugged her close. Her hair was up in a twist with fresh highlights. No doubt she’d wanted some of the sunshine from Diamond Cove with her at all times. The distance between her and Chad wasn’t that far, but it was hard on her.

Grace held on tight, relishing the feeling of being loved and accepted just as she was and everything she’d ever been before. Elizabeth was only an inch shorter than her but she wore heels so Grace looked like the shorter of the two of them. She wore a pair of navy slacks and a crisp white shirt with enough starch to make Grandma proud.

Chad was right behind Elizabeth with his greetings. His honey-blonde hair was styled, not unlike a Ken doll, and he wore light blue golf shorts and a polo shirt. No crease on the arm–Grandma must not have gotten to him yet.

He hugged her, though not as tightly. “So good to see you without a Zoom logo over your head.”

She laughed at his joke even as half her brain was still caught in Ryker’s quick disappearance.

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