concentration on his face.
“Mark my words,” Grandpa said. “You’ll see teeth tomorrow.”
She smiled and said, “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing, after all.” She reached for another rib herself, amazed to see the platter down as much as it was already. “Okay,” she said, “I guess we didn’t have food for six, just four very hungry people.”
“And we don’t skimp on ribs around here,” Grandpa said. “It’s my favorite meal ever.”
“Lucky you,” she said. “I don’t remember the last time I had them,” she admitted.
“It’s not a whole lot of fun to cook for just one,” Grandma said. “That’s why we’re so delighted you could come and visit. It’s just nicer to share something like that.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” she said. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about your grandson and me though.”
“Not at all,” Grandma said.
But that twinkle in her eye had Jessica rolling hers. She looked over at Greyson and shrugged. “I tried.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “They’ll find out the truth soon enough.”
“We already know,” Grandpa said, and a matching twinkle was in his eyes. “You two have that special something, and we’re really happy for you both.”
The two stared at each other in surprise, then looked at each of the grandparents, but there wasn’t a whole lot anybody could say. The grandparents were convinced.
And Jessica was half convinced herself.
It was a wonderful visit with his grandparents; they had cleaned everything up and had spent another couple hours outside. Greyson had a second beer, happy that tonight he didn’t have to drive, though, considering his size, he’d be totally okay with a couple beers anyway, what with the tons of food and the hours between each beer. By the time Danny was looking more than sleepy and ready to go home, all of them still full from dinner, Greyson and Jessica said good night and got into the car.
“Are you okay to drive?” Greyson asked.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Just a little tired, but that’s okay.” As they drove home, she said warmly, “Your grandparents are wonderful.”
“They are pretty special,” he said. “I think, in a way, I was a little angry with them for moving over here, maybe because it seemed like they were moving away from me. But now, of course, I’m in a position to move here too. So maybe things have to happen the way they’re meant to be.”
“I think so,” she said. “Besides, if you hadn’t come to see them, I wouldn’t have met you. You’d probably be somewhere else, looking for some other dog.”
“True enough,” he said. He looked to see Kona had crashed on the back seat. “Speaking of dogs, she was really good tonight.”
“Honestly, nobody would know by looking at her or her behavior that she was anything other than a great family pet,” she said. “And, if you take her away, I think I’ll really miss her.”
“I thought you weren’t much of a dog person.”
“Only because I haven’t had much experience with dogs,” she corrected. “And that’s a very different story.”
“It is, isn’t it?” When they drove up to the house, he got right out, clicked the leash on Kona, and said, “Just sit here for a moment, will you?”
She looked at him and frowned.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “I just want to take a look outside to make sure everything is okay.”
Understanding crossed her face. “I suppose you want me to lock the car doors then, right?”
“Absolutely,” he said, and, with that, he and Kona took off.
She watched him go around the garage and into the backyard. When she saw him again, he was opening the front door and motioning for her to come in. After parking the car, she got out, unbuckled the car seat, and moving gently, carried a sleeping Danny inside the house. “I gather all is well?”
“No,” he said, his voice hard. “It’s not, but I don’t want to leave you in the car any longer. I’m taking you up to your room, and I’ll leave you in there while I make some phone calls.” He didn’t give her a chance to take off her shoes or drop her bag; he just ushered her and Danny straight upstairs. Kona was with him in the bedroom as he did a quick but very thorough search under the bed, in the closets, etc. “Stay in here, please. I’ll explain as soon as I can.” He put Kona at the doorway, firmly saying, “Guard.” Immediately Kona’s whole demeanor changed, and