Page 38 of What Matters Most

“Is anything wrong with Gramps?” Carla called out frantically. Already standing, she reached for a thick towel to dry herself.

“No, nothing like that. It’s a surprise.”

“What about you and Cliff? Things must be working out if you’re seeing him again.” Carla could feel Nancy’s hesitation on the other side of the bathroom door.

“They’re working out, but not as I’d expected. I’m giving it a second chance to see if it’s any better the second time.”

“Oh?” Carla hoped that Nancy wasn’t going to make her ask for an explanation.

“Cliff’s decent, I guess.”

Behind the closed door, Carla smiled smugly. That was how she felt about Cliff. He was fine, but he wasn’t Philip, and now, apparently, he wasn’t Eduardo, either.

“Does Eduardo know? I mean, did you tell him you were seeing another man?” Carla hated to think what would happen if he discovered Nancy was dating Cliff. Eduardo’s male honor was bound to cause him to overreact.

“I…I told him yesterday.”

“And?”

“Oh, he understands. In fact, he encouraged me to see Cliff again. I told him he should do the same thing, and you know what he said? He said he didn’t need to see another woman to know how he feels about me. He mentioned something about me flying to Mexico City to meet his family, but I didn’t let him know one way or the other.” As if regretting she’d revealed that much, Nancy added hastily, “Listen, Carla, I promise that you’ll like your surprise. I’d hurry if I were you.”

The doorbell sounded and was followed by a clicking sound that told Carla she wouldn’t get any more information from her friend. A surprise! Presumably, this was why Nancy had contacted her at the hospital.

Dressing casually in cotton pants and an antique-white blouse with an eyelet collar, Carla hardly bothered with her hair. A quick application of lip gloss and a dab of perfume and she was out the door.

Her heart was hammering by the time she arrived at the retirement center. Her shoes made clicking sounds as she hurried inside, pushing open the double glass doors with both hands. She took the elevator to Gramps’s room on the third floor, thinking it would be faster than running up the stairs.

Gramps’s door was closed. Carla knocked loudly twice and let herself inside. “Gramps, Nancy…” The words died on her lips as her startled eyes clashed with Philip’s. He was sitting opposite her grandfather, playing a game of checkers.

“Philip.” She stood there, stunned. “What are you doing here?”

Gramps came to his feet, using his cane to help him stand. “Nancy brought your young man over to meet me.”

“I asked her to,” Philip added. “Your grandfather was someone I didn’t want to miss meeting.”

“Mighty fine young man you’ve got yourself,” Gramps said, his blue eyes sparkling with approval.

“He could be saying that because he beat me in checkers,” Philip explained, grinning.

Gramps’s weathered face tightened to conceal a smile. “Leave an old man to his peace. Knowing my daughter, she’ll have your hide if either of you is late for dinner.”

“Dinner,” Carla repeated with a panicked look.

“Yes, your mother was kind enough to include me in the invitation.”

“My mother.”

“Something’s wrong with my hearing aid,” Gramps complained, tapping lightly against his ear. “I’m hearing an echo.”

Philip chuckled and cupped Carla’s elbow. “Nice meeting you, Gramps,” he said as he led the way out the door and into the hallway.

“Philip Garrison, what are you doing here?” Carla demanded. Her hands rested defiantly on her hips. Oh my, he looked good. His hair was combed to the side, and a thick lock fell carelessly across his wide brow. His appealing gray eyes were dark and intense as they met hers. To Carla he had never looked more compelling. Staying out of his arms was growing more difficult every minute.

“Are you trying to drive me crazy? Because you’re doing a mighty fine job of it. Why wouldn’t you answer the phone?”

“I…couldn’t.” She wouldn’t lie outright, but she had no compunction about letting him believe she’d been out with Cliff.

“And while we’re at it, you can explain this.” He took Carla’s note to Nancy from his pocket. “ ‘Please don’t tell him I didn’t go out with Cliff,’ ” he read with a sharp edge in his voice. “It seems to me you’ve got some explaining to do.”

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