The Trouble with Angels (Angels Everywhere #2)(47)

He’d failed these two people he loved. Failed God. Failed himself.

The heaviness in his chest was almost unbearable.

He’d learned to live without Barbara, but he didn’t know if he could live with the man that he’d become without her.

Catherine was absolutely delighted. She didn’t know what was developing between Joy and her grandson, but whatever it was looked promising. The sparkle was back in his eyes, and when he’d winked at her, it was all she could do to keep from clapping her hands and laughing outright. That boy was up to something.

On the other hand, Joy looked thoroughly confused and more than a little flustered by the attention Ted was paying her. Her cheeks had glowed an unnatural shade of pink when she’d stood to leave the library.

Catherine might be an interfering old woman, but she’d certainly like to know what was happening between these two people she loved so dearly.

Someone tapped on her apartment door. She rarely kept it locked, and most people knew that. Ted stuck his head inside.

"Howdy, Grandma.”

"Ted,” she said, absolutely delighted to see him. "You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

"I don’t suppose you have any of those chocolate-chip cookies left over from the other day, do you?”

Catherine grinned. "I imagine I could dig up a couple, if you promise not to ruin your dinner.”

"Promise,” he said, coming inside the apartment and making himself at home.

Catherine moved into her tiny kitchen and brought out two cookies on a plate. Her head buzzed with questions about him and Joy, but she didn’t want him to think she was prying.

"I see you’ve met our Joy,” she said casually, and sat across from him.

Ted gobbled down both cookies before he answered. "She’s about the stubbornest woman I’ve yet to meet.”

"Joy Palmer?”

"You don’t know her the way I do.” His eyes flashed with humor. "I’d like to get to know her a whole lot better, but she’s resisting me. Personally, I don’t understand how she can continue to ignore my charm and good looks.”

Catherine laughed. "Maybe she keeps stumbling over your humility.”

Ted grinned and thoughtfully rubbed the side of his jaw. "Perhaps that’s the problem.”

"There isn’t a man or woman here who isn’t crazy about Joy,” Catherine told him. "She’s much more than the resident service director. She’s our friend and our advocate. When I first moved to Wilshire Grove it wasn’t an easy adjustment for me to make. I’m too independent. I like things my own way, but Joy was there to smooth away the rough edges, to make the transition as uncomplicated as possible.”

"I’m taking her out.”

Catherine tried not to show how pleased she was, but doubted that she succeeded. "That’s wonderful.”

Ted grew thoughtful. "You don’t think my interest in her is a psychological male thing having to do with the fear of relinquishing my freedom, do you?”

Catherine wasn’t sure she followed that entirely. "Ah, I don’t think so.”

He beamed her a wide smile. "Good. I didn’t think so, either.” He leaned back and relaxed once more. "I want my date with her to be special. Do you have any recommendations?”

Catherine thought about it for several moments, then nodded. "The antique car show. As you might have guessed, Joy has an appreciation for older things.”

There was a knock at Catherine’s front door. She waited for whomever it was to let themselves inside. A second knock followed, this one louder and more insistent.

Catherine stood and crossed the room. It was Blythe Holmes.

"Hello, Mrs. Goodwin,” she said. She refused to meet Catherine’s gaze as she surveyed the living room. "I’m looking for Ted.”

"Blythe.” Ted was on his feet. "What are you doing here?”

"Shucks,” Paula said with a dramatic sigh, "I thought we might find them already kissing.”

"It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen,” Karen returned in a loud whisper. The two girls had their elbows wrapped around each other’s necks.

"Would you two kindly stop talking about us like we can’t hear you?” Maureen said crankily. It was mildly disconcerting to have two twelve-year-olds discussing her love life, as if she had one. A few innocent kisses shared with Thom Nichols hardly constituted a sexual relationship.

"Actually, I wanted to know if Karen could spend the night on Friday.” Paula addressed herself to Maureen. "I already asked my dad, and he said I had to get your permission first, but he said it was fine with him.”

Maureen didn’t dare look at her daughter staring at her so hopefully. If she refused, it would crush Karen’s heart. It wasn’t as if she had other plans.

"I suppose it would be all right.”

"I’ll pick up Karen,” Thom offered.

"But that means you’ll need to drive into the city.”

"No problem. I promised Paula I’d drive her around and show her the Christmas decorations. There’s a list of addresses in the paper, and it’s sort of a tradition we have.”

"Karen would enjoy that.”

"Wanna come?” The offer, uttered under his breath, was low and seductive.