Always Dakota

“What?”

“That you were just as surprised as me.”

“At kissing you?” he asked.

“You liked it, didn’t you? That’s what threw you for a loop.”

He didn’t answer her, because he had enjoyed their kisses. And because she was absolutely correct: he’d been surprised.

“Am I right, Matt?”

He sighed and wondered if he dared admit it. Past experience had taught him it was better to hide a potentially dangerous fact.

“Why don’t we save this discussion for later?” he hedged.

“Okay,” she agreed, sounding eager.

The truth was, Matt was sure he’d disappoint Margaret Clemens. He understood why her father had talked to him. Hell, had their positions been reversed—had she been his daughter—he would have done the same thing.

Heath was finally going to tell his grandmother the news she’d been waiting to hear. Thanksgiving seemed the perfect time. During his youth, the two of them were often at odds. It had taken time and distance and more than one clash of wills for him to understand why. They were too much alike. She was a cantankerous old woman, but Heath loved her. He also respected her business acumen and valued her advice—even when it got a little too personal.

He left Rachel and Mark at his house in Grand Forks and drove to the retirement center where Lily Quantrill resided. As far as family went, Lily was all he had.

“I can’t understand why you insist on taking me out to eat,” she snapped the instant he arrived.

She was confined to a wheelchair now and he knew she hated it, but that was no reason to stay inside when the fresh air might do her some good.

“I thought you’d enjoy getting out for a few hours,” Heath told her.

She wheeled toward him and reached for her hat. Posed in front of a mirror, which had been hung deliberately low, she set it on her head and pinned it in place. “Where did you say we were going?”

“I didn’t,” he reminded her.

Lily paused in her task and glared up at him. “You know I don’t like surprises.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Then tell me where we’re headed.”

Heath sighed. “To eat Thanksgiving dinner.”

Her pinched lips told him she wasn’t pleased. He ignored her bad mood and laid the heavy winter coat across her lap. No need to put it on until he had her down on the first floor.

“It’s a wonder Grandpa ever got to first base with you,” he said as he wheeled her toward the elevator.

“Leave your grandfather out of this.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“And don’t patronize me, young man. I won’t put up with it.”

Hiding the smile in his voice was impossible. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

The elevator arrived and the doors glided smoothly open. Heath maneuvered her chair inside and pushed the button for the lobby.

She twisted around and stared up at him. “Do you seriously think some restaurant is going to fix a turkey the way I remember it?” she barked.

“Thanksgiving is about more than turkey and pumpkin pie.”

“Are you lecturing me, Heath Quantrill?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said again, his voice light with amusement.

“There was a day you wouldn’t dare laugh at me.”

“I’m not laughing,” he assured her. The doors opened and he stationed her by the entrance while he went to the parking lot to bring the car around. When he returned, an attendant had helped her don her coat and wheeled her outside to meet him.

He didn’t realize how thin and frail she was until he lifted her into the passenger seat. Then the attendant folded her wheelchair and loaded it in the trunk.

“I can’t imagine why you wanted to take me out to dinner,” she muttered for at least the third time.

“Grandma,” he told her, “there are women all over town who’d jump at the chance to have dinner with me.”

“Well, I’m not one of them.”

He glanced over and saw her lips quiver in a half smile.

“Have you been seeing Kate lately?” she demanded.

“No.” Earlier in the year, Heath had gone out with a female bank executive a couple of times. The problem was, he’d already fallen in love with Rachel Fischer, but at that point her attitude had been completely and totally unreasonable.

“I’ve decided I don’t like her,” Lily informed him.

Heath chuckled. “Few women pass muster with you, do they?”

“Rachel did,” she snapped, “but you tried to rush her into bed. It’s no wonder the woman won’t have anything to do with you.” She glowered with disapproval. “What is it with you young people these days? You’d think God gave us Ten Suggestions instead of Ten Commandments.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

She grumbled something else he couldn’t hear. Then, for the first time, she noticed that he wasn’t driving in the direction of any restaurants. Instead, they were in a residential neighborhood.

“Where are you taking me?” she demanded again. “And don’t give me that story about going to dinner. I want to know exactly where we’re headed.”

“You’ll know soon enough,” he promised.

Lily studied the landscape. “This is close to your parents’ house, isn’t it?”

“It is.”