Coming Home(33)

Danny lifted his head slightly, peeking out from under the sink. “You know nothing trumps you,” he said with a wink, and she chuckled.

“Stop schmoozing me. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Danny laughed as he positioned the flashlight near his shoulder. As much as he made jokes, what he’d said was the truth; there was nothing that took precedence over her, no matter how much she tried to urge him to feel otherwise, and she knew it.

“Alright, I need a different wrench,” he said, sliding out from under the sink and rubbing his lower back. “I’m pretty sure I have the one I need in my car.”

“Why don’t you take a break?” she said, handing him the glass of iced tea he hadn’t even seen her pour. He took it gratefully, leaning his back up against the cabinet and taking a large sip.

“Thanks,” he said, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth.

She nodded with a smile, shuffling over to the chair near the table. “So, did you ever get in touch with Leah?”

“What?” he asked, startled.

“For the flowers,” she said, taking a seat across from him. “Did you thank her for me?”

“Oh,” he said. “Yeah, I did.”

“She seems sweet.”

Danny took another long sip of his drink. “Yeah,” he said, reaching above him to place the glass on the counter near the sink.

“Beautiful too,” she said innocently, looking at her pants as she brushed away invisible lint.

“Gram.”

“What?” she said.

Danny opened his mouth, only to close it without answering. He shook his head as he pulled himself to his feet. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it does.”

He leaned down, saying nothing as he sifted through the toolbox.

“You deserve to be happy,” she said, and he laughed bitterly.

“That’s debatable,” he said as he straightened, turning to walk toward the door.

“Daniel,” she said firmly, and he stopped in his tracks. “Please don’t leave while I’m having a conversation with you. It’s rude.”

He looked down with a nod. “Sorry.”

A second later he heard her come up behind him, and then her hand was on his bicep, turning him back around to face her. “You do deserve to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

His teeth came together as he tried to smother the surge of frustration he felt at her words. “Yeah?” he asked tightly. “And what about Leah? Does she deserve to be happy?”

“Daniel,” she said softly.

“You think getting involved with someone like me would make her happy?” he continued. “You think she’d just overlook everything that comes along with it?”

Gram looked down, twisting the ring on her left hand. “Everyone has baggage, Daniel.”

“Gram, come on,” he said.

When she didn’t lift her eyes, his voice softened.

“It wouldn’t be fair,” he said. “You know it wouldn’t.”

Her shoulders rose slightly as she took a breath before looking up at him. “You’re not dying, love.”

He winced as if she’d hit him.

“You still have your whole life ahead of you,” she went on. Gram brought her hand to the side of his face as she said, “Don’t miss out on the chances you have to make it a wonderful one.”

Danny shook his head slightly. “Do you hear what you’re saying? So, I’m supposed to just string her along on the off chance that everything goes my way?”