Forever single? A former priest entering the dating pool for the first time?”
Grandpa Wayne laughed. “Widower. Six years. And you?”
“Widow. Five years.”
They both nodded, silent words spoken between them.
I glanced over at Lori and she gave me a smile.
Grandma Joyce took a sip of her water, still watching my grandpa. “Do you have any hobbies?”
“Sure . . .” Grandpa Wayne thought about it. “Cards. Reading. Morning walks. Gardening.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Ballroom dancing?”
He nodded. “Love it, although I’m a little rusty since it’s been—”
“Over six years?”
He nodded again.
“Yeah, well, over five years for me, obviously.”
“Oh!” Lori wiped her mouth. “I forgot to tell you, Grandma. I found a local studio that offers ballroom dancing twice a week. The prices are very reasonable and they even offer the first class free for first-time guests. They have a class tomorrow. You two should go!”
“Nice try,” Grandma Joyce said. “You probably had this planned all along as part of your setup.”
“You and I were talking about ballroom dancing before I met Ben for the first time.”
“You and Ben should go with us,” Grandma Joyce said.
Lori wagged her finger at her. “You have Wayne to go with, you don’t need us.”
Grandma Joyce’s gaze bounced back and forth between me and Lori like she was considering it. Then she turned toward my grandpa. “Can I talk to you in private, Wayne?”
Wayne looked up from his forkful of saffron rice. “Absolutely.”
“Good. Follow me.”
He set his fork on his plate and stood, following Grandma Joyce out of the food court.
Lori arched an eyebrow. “Where do you suppose they’re going?”
I shrugged. “Down to the captain’s quarters to make out?” I laughed.
“Very funny.” She took a bite of her chicken kebab, watching the entrance. “How did you know they would hit it off?”
I shrugged. “I had a good feeling about it. I loved your grandma’s personality when she called the show, plus you said she was your best friend, so I figured she had to be a decent person. And like I said, Grandpa Wayne loves women with lots of energy. It really was an easy match.”
Lori nodded. “You do seem to know a lot about people. Maybe that PhD of yours serves a purpose after all.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t have met you without that PhD because I wouldn’t be working in radio. It’s all connected. The stars aligned for me to meet you back in high school in my first psychology class, and everything connected perfectly until that kiss last night.”
Lori’s cheeks turned red. “Then it all fell apart.”
I shook my head. “It’s not over ’til it’s over.”
“Yes, it is. You heard what Kyle said, and you agreed we would only be friends.”
I took a sip of my root beer. “And how do you know I wasn’t crossing my fingers behind my back?”
“Don’t go there,” Lori warned. “Oh look, they’re coming back!” She pointed to the entrance of the food court.
“I know you’re trying to change the subject.”
“As a matter of fact, I am. And would you look at the smiles on their faces.” She turned to me. “How could they have such immediate chemistry like that? It really was amazing to watch.”
“Kyle said you and I had amazing chemistry. Remember that?”
Lori pretended to think about it. “Nope. Can’t say that I do.”
I chuckled and pointed to my Grandpa Wayne. “What was that all about, you two?”
He sat down in front of me and took a sip of his drink. “I will let Joyce explain.”
Grandma Joyce sat down and smiled, also taking a sip of her drink.
“Grandma?” Lori said, eyeing her suspiciously. “What was that all about?”
She set her drink down. “Oh, nothing at all.”
“I don’t trust you.”
Joyce clutched her heart. “Your words hurt so much that I—”
“Grandma! Spill the beans.”
“Oh, fine. Wayne and I decided that we are going ballroom dancing tomorrow.”
I clapped my hands together. “Yay! That’s wonderful.”
Grandma Joyce nodded. “I mean, why not? Life is short and we’re not getting any younger. We need to get out and have some fun.”
“Of course. That’s always the best attitude. Great, just great. I’ll get you the info and the address of the studio.”
She waved off Lori’s comment. “Oh, that won’t be necessary.”
Lori blinked. “Why not?”
“Because you’re driving me.”
Grandpa Wayne tapped me on the arm. “And you’re driving me!”
“Why do you need both of us to drive you?” I turned to my grandpa. “Can’t you pick up Joyce?”
He shook his head. “My car is in the shop.”
I crossed my arms. “Your car was in the driveway when I picked