Lily White Lies(26)

I forced a smile and nodded.

“Shouldn’t we be leaving for Brickway soon anyway?”

She had been on her way to the door when she suddenly stopped and spun on one heel to face me.

“I’m sorry child, didn’t I tell you? I’m not going to be able to make it today.” Shaking her head in thought, she mumbled, “I could have sworn I told you.”

Secretly grateful for the last minute cancellation, I said, “I hope everything’s alright.”

“Oh, everything’s fine. I have to be at the church for our annual fundraiser meeting.” Taking a drink from her flask, she shoved it into her purse as she heard Gramp’s footsteps coming up the porch stairs, and added, “Every year we do the same, tired cookbook, but this year I’m going to make sure we do something people will actually look forward to.”

As the screen door slammed behind him, Gramp nodded in my direction and said, “Hey, Sugar.” He leaned in to give Gram a kiss on the cheek then looked toward me again with concern in his eyes. “Ask her what her idea for the fundraiser is.”

Giving Gramp a playful slap on the arm, she said, “Stewart! Now I’ve told you, there’s nothing wrong with my idea. It’s high time we took our little church out of the dark ages.”

My curiosity piqued, I asked, “What is your idea, Gram?”

Excitement filled her eyes. “I was thinking maybe a calendar. You know… something useful and practical.”

Gramp looked at her sternly, and said, “Go ahead, Cybil, tell her the rest.”

Seemingly uncomfortable, Gram sighed and said, “Okay, I thought maybe if we could get some of the men from church to pose for the calendar… well, it might make the ladies more likely to buy them and more eager to try and sell them.”

“Now, now Cybil.” Pulling out a chair, Gramp sat and directed his attention toward me. “She wants them to pose wearing little more than a bible and rosary beads.”

“Gram!”

“Her other idea was an auction. You know, have the men standing for the women to ogle, while she sells them off to the highest bidder.” Giving her a loving wink, he added, “I personally think she’s been watching too much daytime television.” Unable to contain his laughter, Gramp lowered his head to avoid Gram’s stare.

Disbelief filled her eyes. “Well, if you aren’t just the dill in the pickle patch.” Throwing her hands in the air, she said, “What? I suppose you’d have us make hoagies or put up a chicken barbeque. People aren’t interested in those things anymore. It’s so no one shows up and we get stuck with forty or fifty chickens.” Picking up her purse and letting out a disgusted sigh, she said in defeat, “Well, some of the ladies thought my idea was ingenious and I think you’re just worried no one would bid on you.”

Gramp stood. Wrapping his arms around Gram, he chuckled and asked, “Would that have been the ladies of the fancy flask club?” Ignoring the annoyance that flickered in her eyes, he added, “You do keep it interesting, old girl.”

Placing an affectionate kiss on her forehead, he turned and headed out the same door he had come in only moments earlier, shaking his head.

Once he was out of earshot, Gram whispered, “Sugar and spice, dear, just sugar and spice. Making sure he gets his fill of both, otherwise, he’d get bored.”

With that said, she disappeared out the same door Gramp had just gone through, leaving me sitting alone at the table. My decision now was whether I would make the trip to Brickway—alone.

I had been sitting for some time when I realized, I was relaxed. For the first time in weeks, I was actually relaxed, enjoying a peaceful, serene feeling, free from all serious thoughts. I had forgotten how good this simple comfort felt, when the screen door let out its penetrating screech.

“Hey, Sugar. Didn’t realize you were still here.”

Strumming my fingers lightly on the table, I answered, “Yeah… I’m just trying to decide what I’m going to do today. I’m not in your way, am I? I mean, I don’t want to keep you from anything.”

I noted a slight sadness in his voice when he answered. “No, Sugar, I’ve had about all the alone time I can stand for one lifetime. Stay and keep me company.” He hesitated. “Unless you have other things to do.”

Something told me that I should accept his offer. Normally I would grasp for an excuse to leave, but today, in my relaxed state, I felt more at ease with him.

Finishing the glass of tea he had come in for, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and offered a devilish smile, saying, “C’mon, you can help me with little one.”