When It's Right(59)
“Is that what you’d like to do? We could look into some of the colleges and see what is available to you. Your grandfather and I will help you.”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never had the time to really think about what I want to do. Being a vet seemed a good choice. I love animals. They seem to like me.”
“The horses sure do take to you.”
“That’s just it. I really like working with them. Especially the wounded and sick animals. I’ve enjoyed nursing Boots back to health. I’d like to keep at it. Right now, it’s enough.”
“I could talk to Dr. Potts about getting you some veterinary books. You could read up on horse illnesses and injuries and the proper way to care for them. You can see if it sparks your interest even more and whether you want to go to school for that. Even if you don’t, it’ll help you with taking care of the horses on the ranch. Talk to your grandfather. That man is an encyclopedia of horse knowledge.”
“I’ll do that. It’ll be another way to break the ice and give us something to talk about.”
“He lost your mother a long time ago. He’s not used to talking to young ladies.”
“Does he miss her?”
“He misses the little girl he raised. What about you? Do you miss her?”
Gillian selected two boxes of cereal. One healthy. One filled with sugar. She’d alternate them for Justin and balance out his need to be a kid with her need to feed him healthy food.
“I miss the idea of her, not the impatient, frustrated, drug-hazed woman who couldn’t be bothered with me. When I was young, it wasn’t as bad as things got a couple of years before Justin was born. She could be kind. She could be patient. She smiled. But those periods were brief and far between. I held on to those memories and hoped every day when I woke up that it would be a day that she smiled.”
Grandma Dee added four cans of green beans and six cans of peaches to the cart. She turned from the shelves and touched her hand to Gillian’s shoulder. “I wish there had been more days like that for you.”
“Me, too.”
“We better get some more ice cream, or Justin and Blake will both be grumbling tonight.”
Gillian laughed. “Those two sure do like their ice cream.”
“Like you love your cookies.”
“It’s the chocolate,” she admitted. “I have a real thing for chocolate.”
“Who doesn’t? I keep a stash in the pantry all the time. I love to make brownies, but hardly ever do because up until recently it’s just been your grandfather and I. Plus we have to fight off Blake to get any.”
“I love brownies. Let’s make some when we get back. We’ll do it together. I’d like to learn to cook better. I’m good at a few simple things, like burgers, spaghetti, and fried chicken, but I’d like to cook like you.”
Grandma Dee’s eyes lit with pride and enthusiasm. “I’d like that. I’m happy to teach you everything I know. My mother taught me . . .” Her voice trailed off. “I’m sorry, Gillian. I wasn’t thinking.”
Gillian reached out and touched her arm. “It’s okay. Come on, let’s get what we need for the brownies and our other groceries.”
“After we finish here, I want to take you to a little shop across the street. You need something.”
“I do?”
“You’ll see.”
Gillian followed her grandmother, pushing the cart and grabbing what they needed off the shelves. They went through the checkout, and her grandmother paid. Funny, now that she felt closer to her grandparents, her pride didn’t prick as much at them buying her food, clothes, everything she and Justin needed. They wanted to help. She had to admit, it was nice to have someone who genuinely cared.
They loaded the grocery bags into the truck, tucking the perishables into the cooler and covering it with the bag of ice they’d bought to get them home unspoiled. They locked the doors again.
“We’ll have to hurry before that ice cream melts, but it’s just right over here.”
Gillian followed her grandmother into the cute little store across the way. Girly to the max. Accessory heaven. Scarves, hats, jewelry, and hair accessories filled the cases and racks. Colorful. Sparkly. Pretty.
Her grandmother stood before a tall display of headbands in a variety of colors and sizes. Some plain, others with flowers or other decorations. Not little girl sweet, but grown-up chic.
“What do you think? Which ones do you like?”
“Oh, I don’t need anything.” The words didn’t hold much conviction. She wanted to try on several. She’d seen women in San Francisco, their hair styled just so with pretty things like this to enhance their style.