the beam. Living in her house, working on her land… Poppy had to talk to her grandmother before any more damage was done.
THREE
For no other reason than it made good sense, Poppy did go to her bedroom to get dressed before heading to Grammie’s suite. She tried to hold onto her anger but was fighting a losing battle. Under normal circumstances, it was difficult to be mad at her eccentric grandmother. With the woman recently surviving a heart attack, being mad at her was even harder than usual.
Poppy knocked on Grammie’s bedroom door, expecting to hear a shout granting entry from inside. Instead, the door burst open, startling her.
Grammie came striding out, almost bowling her granddaughter over. “Let’s go for a walk,” Marigold declared, seizing Poppy’s arm to direct them along the hallway.
“Grammie,” Poppy said, going with her, though it wasn’t like she had a choice. “You’re meddling.”
Her grandmother didn’t sound angry. In fact, the air of delight was obvious in her tone. “And you lied to me,” the woman said, guiding them down the stairs. “You said there was no stud.”
“Grammie,” Poppy said again. “Turner isn’t a stud.”
Marigold laughed. “I’ve seen the man, Tater-Tot and he is definitely a bona fide stud.”
“He’s attractive, I know but—”
“Attractive? He’s hot, Poppy, dear,” Grammie said, squeezing them closer together as they went out onto the terrace. “And he has rough hands.”
“I don’t even want to know how you know that.”
“You know how I feel about rough hands. He works for a living.”
Leaving the stone terrace, they carried on strolling on the grass. “Yes, he does, and that’s exactly the problem. He doesn’t have the time to waste playing games here. He could lose everything if he doesn’t get home soon.”
“I didn’t teach you very well if you think there’s anything physical that can’t be replaced. Turner understands that people can’t be replaced or substituted. He loves you.” Hearing that didn’t help Poppy’s resolve. “I don’t know why you have a problem with that or why you’d send him away. He wants to be with you, Poppy, and he’s a good man.”
“He’s an excellent man,” Poppy said. “The best and most honorable man I’ve ever met. That’s why he has to go back. He has a family who rely on him. He has five sisters and lost his father—”
“When he was eighteen, I know,” Grammie said. “He told me all about his mother and his sisters. I have to say, I identify with Valerie. She and I both loved our husbands totally and completely, and we lost them too soon. Ed did a far better job with Turner than my father did with yours.”
“So you’re friends now?” Poppy asked, thinking back to how she’d found out about his family and it wasn’t in an open and honest discussion the night they met. “You and Turner are friends?”
“Yes, we’re family,” Grammie said. “He’s going to marry my favorite granddaughter. Father my great grandbabies.”
Mortified, Poppy hadn’t thought she’d ever be one of those people who believed Marigold had gone too far. “You said that to him? Grammie! Oh my God!”
“He said it to me,” Grammie said, innocent yet impressed. “He’s a determined man.”
“It will ruin his life,” Poppy said, trying to restrain her emotions. “Coming here, giving up everything, leaving his sisters… He’ll resent me for it and he’ll be right. He’s dedicated his life to caring for his family and his friends… I can’t be the reason he leaves them.”
“And you don’t think he’ll grow to resent them for keeping him from you? You’re his future, Poppy. The future that he wants. Whatever becomes of your lives, the family will be happy as long as you can be together.” The air around Marigold became more somber. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have forever. He’s approaching the age Will and Ed were when we lost them. How would you feel if you wasted this time you have with your love?”
“Turner is not going to die.”
“Val and I would’ve said the same thing about our husbands,” Grammie said. “You haven’t learned how precious a gift love is.”
“I have,” Poppy said, focusing on the grass. “I’ve learned how it consumes a person… and how it alters everything you know about the world.”
“Does it?”
“Yes,” Poppy said, knowing that her grandmother was aware of exactly what she meant. “I know what you’re trying to do and I appreciate it. I know your heart is in the right place, but please, please understand that I know Turner