Amazing Gracie (23 page)

“You want to go to Aunt Delia’s? Why?” He grinned. “You hoping I’ll put you to work so you can earn some summer spending money?”

“That, too,” she admitted with a grin. “But mostly I just like it there. Mama takes me there sometimes, too. We sit on the porch and watch the water. Mama asked and Aunt Delia said it was okay.”

“Of course it’s okay. I’m just surprised.”

“I like to watch the water, Uncle Kevin.”

“Why is that?”

“It’s always there, no matter what.”

“Not like people, huh?”

Abby sighed. “Yeah, not like people.”

It was funny, he thought now. He’d always felt that way about Aunt Delia’s place himself. Years ago, his father had spent more time in Richmond than he had at home. When his father was around, there were always aunts and uncles and cousins in and out of his house asking for help with one crisis or another. The help had always been given, but usually not without a lot of shouting. After his mother died, Kevin had taken refuge at Aunt Delia’s whenever Molly or his father would agree to take him.

Maybe that was why he was so opposed to Gracie’s plan, he thought, startled by the unexpected insight. Maybe he just didn’t want to think of that peaceful, serene house turned upside down by strangers. Maybe he was being totally selfish in trying to keep it for himself, when the odds of him ever living there were practically nonexistent. For some reason, though, he just liked knowing it was there, available, as steady and dependable as the flowing of the Potomac.

Then again, he thought wryly, maybe he just liked making Gracie a little crazy with his stubborn refusal to take her offers seriously. That had provided him with a whole month or more of pure entertainment.

“Why are you grinning, Uncle Kevin?”

“Just thinking about something.”

“That lady, I’ll bet.”

He stared at her. “Which lady?”

“The one Daddy says you like, the one who wants to buy Aunt Delia’s house. He called the house last night and told me about her. You know what else?”

“What?”

“He and Mama talked for a long time, too. They hardly ever do that. Do you think it means anything?”

Kevin doubted it. “I don’t know, sweetpea.”

“I was just thinking it would be nice if they got back together,” she said wistfully.

“Every kid whose parents are divorced wishes that,” Kevin told her. “Sometimes it’s for the best if they don’t, though.”

“I guess.” She grinned. “So tell me about you and this lady. Is she pretty?”

“You’re entirely too nosy for a kid,” he told her.

“Which means I should stop asking questions, right, ’cause I’m making you nervous?” she said, nodding sagely. “Can I meet her?”

“One of these days, I suppose.”

“Why not today?” Abby prodded. “I’ll bet she’d like to come to Aunt Delia’s with us.”

“I’m sure she would.”

“Daddy said you caught her sneaking into the house one day. Is that true?”

“Actually she was sneaking out,” he said, recalling the fascinating view.

“She sounds really cool. Can we get her, please?”

“Sure, why not,” Kevin said eventually, making the turn that would take them to Gracie’s. He braked to a
stop, tilted Abby’s chin up and looked directly into her eyes. “But you are not to mention that the house belongs to Aunt Delia, okay?”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.”

“Isn’t that like a giant fib or something?”

“It’s not a fib,” Kevin declared. “It’s an omission.”

“Who does she think owns the house?”

“I haven’t told her.”

“Why not?”

“You ask entirely too many questions.”

“Don’t you know why?”

“Because I don’t want to, that’s why.”

“You’re weird, Uncle Kevin. You know that, don’t you?”

“That’s a fine thing to say to your favorite uncle.”

“It’s okay,” Abby reassured him. “I love you, anyway.”

He grinned. “Thanks, squirt. I love you, too.” He shut off the engine, then tilted his head and pretended to study her. “Even if you do have freckles on your nose.”

“Do not,” she protested, instantly covering her nose.

“Do, too.”

“You’re teasing.”

“Ask Gracie, if you don’t believe me,” he suggested as he led Abby around to Gracie’s backyard. For once, he opted for a little formality and actually knocked before stepping into the kitchen. “Anybody home?”

When Gracie didn’t answer, Abby said, “I’ll bet she’s at Mrs. Johnson’s.”

Kevin peered at her intently. “Exactly where are you getting all your information about Gracie’s habits?”

“Never mind. I have my sources,” she said, giving him a superior little smile. “Wanna bet that’s where she is?”

“No, I do not want to bet,” Kevin retorted. “If we hurry, though, she might have some muffins ready.”

“Blueberry, I’ll bet. Just for you.”

Sure enough, they found Gracie in Mrs. Johnson’s kitchen and there were scones, not muffins, just out of the oven. Chocolate pecan, this time. Kevin could smell the melting chocolate before he ever stepped inside.

“Told you he’d be here,” Mrs. Johnson said with satisfaction.

Kevin grinned at Gracie. “Were you worried I wouldn’t show up, darlin?”

“Afraid you would,” Gracie contradicted, then focused her attention on Abby. “You must be Kevin’s cousin.”

“I’m Abby.”

“And I’m Gracie. It’s very nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Probably next to nothing compared to what she’s heard about you,” Kevin muttered.

Abby shot him a grin. “I heard that, Uncle Kevin.”

He tugged on her pigtail. “I’ll bet if you ask Gracie nicely, she’ll let you try a scone.”

“You never ask nicely,” Gracie pointed out. “You just grab.”

“That’s because I don’t want to take the chance you’ll turn me down.”

“As if she would,” Mrs. Johnson said. “All of you, take the scones and run along. I’ve got things to do.”

Kevin regarded her closely. “Such as reporting in to Aunt Delia?”

“What I do with my time is none of your concern, young man. Now, scoot.” She smiled at Abby. “You’re growing up too fast, young lady. Another inch at least since the last time I saw you.”

“I’m almost as tall as Mama now,” Abby said proudly.

“Well, you tell your mama hello for me. Stop by next time you all come over to sit on that porch next door.”

Kevin noted Gracie’s startled look at Mrs. Johnson’s reference to the front porch of the Victorian. As soon as they were outside, Gracie asked casually, “Do you and your mom come over here often?”

“Lots in the summertime,” Abby said. “We don’t live by the water. Sometimes we sit here until the moon comes up, especially the full moon. It’s totally awesome the way it shines on the water.”

“Yes, it is,” Gracie agreed.

Kevin could practically see the wheels turning in that brain of hers. He wondered how long it was going to take before she began adding up two and two.

No sooner had they walked up the front steps at Aunt Delia’s than Abby asked, “Can I cut the grass, Uncle Kevin? You let it go too long again. There’s probably snakes and all sorts of other critters hiding in it.”

“Including baby bunnies,” he retorted slyly. “You want to scare them to death?”

“That’s what you always say,” she chided. “The bunnies run away, you know they do. And they come right back the minute the clover pops up.”

Letting Abby cut the grass solved several problems. It kept her away from Gracie, minimizing the risk that she would let something slip. Just as important, it would get Gracie off his back about the out-of-control lawn. He reached in his pocket and took out the key to the toolshed in back.

“Be careful now,” he instructed. “You might have been joking about those snakes, but you never know when you might stumble across one.”

“Snakes?” Gracie said, staring at him with wide eyes, even as Abby dashed off. She unconsciously drew her feet up onto the bottom step, out of the way of any slithering creatures that might be in the vicinity.

Abby might have been totally unintimidated by his warning, but Gracie clearly was scared to death.

“You’re not going to let that child cut grass when she might run across a snake,” she protested.

“It probably won’t be a big one,” he said, enjoying her reaction.

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Cutting the grass is supposed to be your job.”

“Nobody said I had to do it myself. Abby likes doing it.”

“Which suits your purposes just fine, doesn’t it?”

“Sure. It means I get to sit on the porch all alone with you. Can’t get a better deal than that.”

She remained silent for several minutes, pondering that and idly eating one of her scones. “How often do you get Abby to cut the grass for you?” she asked eventually.

“I
let
her do it whenever she wants. Obviously she has more time once school is out.”

“Which is why the grass hasn’t been cut before now,” she guessed.

“That’s one reason.” And keeping Aunt Delia away from the place was another, one he didn’t care to get into.

Naturally, though, Gracie promptly asked, “And the other reasons would be?”

“Do you really want to know all the details of the grass-cutting schedule around here?”

She nodded. “Yes, I think I do”

Kevin sighed. “The grass gets cut when it gets cut. End of story.”

“Do you pay her?”

“In ice cream usually, though now that she’s growing up, she’ll probably want cash so she can buy more books. Abby’s quite a reader.”

“You planning on getting her to paint the place, too? Maybe buying her a pizza in return for whitewashing the fence? Or maybe getting her a whole set of encyclopedias?”

“Now you’re being sarcastic.”

“Yes, I am,” she confirmed. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want a straight answer.”

“Abby will not be painting the house,” he said, then hesitated. He grinned at her. “Unless she wants to.”

“There’s something about this that doesn’t make sense,” Gracie said, her expression thoughtful.

“You worry too much, darlin’. Can’t you just kick back and enjoy the view?”

She set her rocker into motion. She even gazed out at the water. But there wasn’t a doubt in Kevin’s mind that those wheels in her head were spinning like roulette wheels in Vegas. Sooner or later she was bound to come up with a winning explanation. He found that downright worrisome.

“I thought it was time you and I got to know each other,” Kevin’s Aunt Delia declared to Gracie, pouring tea into lovely old china cups.

Gracie had been stunned by the message on her answering machine inviting her to tea at Greystone Manor. She’d recognized the name from Kevin’s occasional mention of an aunt Delia, but until the call, she’d had no idea the woman actually lived with him. Very curious.

She’d been even more intrigued when she’d realized that she was to be the only guest. She’d called back immediately to accept the invitation for the next day.

Delia Winthrop was a lovely woman with her snow-white hair and still flawless complexion. Her eyes twinkled with pure mischief as she led Gracie into the living room where a teacart had been set up by French doors leading out to a rose garden. The sweet scent of roses was thick in the air.

“Does Kevin know about this?” Gracie asked.

Delia looked guilty for no longer than a heartbeat. “Heavens, no!” she confessed. “He’d have my head for meddling. He’s gone to Richmond for the day.”

“I see,” Gracie said, though she wasn’t certain that she saw at all.

“Why don’t you tell me what you were thinking of doing with the house?” Aunt Delia suggested as she handed Gracie a plate of sandwiches.

“You know about that?” Gracie asked, surprised that Kevin had discussed it with anyone. He certainly managed to avoid discussing it with her.

“Well, of course I do. It’s my house, after all.”

Gracie’s hands shook so hard she had to set the plate down. “Yours?” she asked, wondering why she hadn’t figured out before that the house belonged to someone in Kevin’s family. No wonder he could afford to take such a lackadaisical attitude toward its upkeep.

Delia gave a satisfied little nod. “Thought so. Kevin hadn’t mentioned that, I suppose.”

“No, he had not.”

“Well, it is. Lived in it for seventy-five years, right up until the day Kevin insisted I move in here with him. That was a good many years ago now and I’ve never regretted it for a minute, though I do miss that house.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Gracie muttered.

“Oh, my dear, you don’t want to do that,” Delia pro
tested, chuckling. “Things are just getting downright interesting around here.”

“Maybe from your perspective.”

“Yours, too. I suspect. Who’d you think the house belonged to?”

“I wasn’t sure. For a while I thought it was some mysterious stranger. Then I began to wonder if it actually belonged to Kevin.”

“The truth is, I have transferred the deed into his name, but he refuses to think of it as his. He won’t until I’m dead, and I’ve no intention of that happening anytime soon.”

“Are you the reason he won’t discuss selling it to me?”

“Goodness, no. I’ve told him to do whatever he thinks is best. If you ask me, he’s being difficult for the pure enjoyment of tormenting you. That boy hasn’t had nearly enough fun in his life.”

Gracie couldn’t believe her ears. It seemed to her that all Kevin had was fun. She’d certainly never seen him do a lick of work.

“What do you mean?” she asked carefully.

“He’s been responsible for the whole lot of us for years now,” she said. “There’s me and his uncle Bo, that’s his father’s brother, and Bo’s good-for-nothing boys. Plus his uncle Steven’s brood. They depend on him for everything, too, thanks to Steven’s will naming Kevin trustee of his estate. I believe you’ve met Bobby Ray and Abby, and Helen, of course.”

Well, I’ll be
, Gracie thought. Delia’s revelations certainly gave her a whole new perspective on Kevin. Obviously he managed to do something to keep all of those financial balls in the air. He just didn’t make it look like work. Fascinating.

“Is Kevin in Richmond on business?” she asked.

“His law firm’s there.”