A Summer of Lessons, Laughs, and Love_PDF Version

193 boyfriend. \"Prescott Hamilton in regard to my grandmother.\" \"What's that have to do with me?\" he asked. Good question. \"I think you know her—well knew her once upon a time.\" \"Is that so?\" he asked. \"And?\" I was really bad at this. \"And I think you'd like to meet her to catch up or something-\" \"You're horrible at this,\" Prescott said. \"Hello Mr. Brown, this is Prescott speaking.\" \"How do you know my last name?\" he asked, maintain his composure although he didn’t know us or what any of this was about. \"Long story short sir, I believe you have some unfinished business with a woman named Bailey McDonald.\" \"You're kidding.\" Robert said. \"I haven't heard that name in years. “She isn't dead, is she?\" he asked hesitantly. \"No,\" Prescott said quickly. \"Mrs. McDonald isn't dead. She's very much alive, I could send you a photo

194 to prove it,\" he explained. I jabbed his side. My grandma wouldn’t approve of us sending pictures to some man even if she did love him. \"But that's not why I—why we called, Grace and I would like to formally invite you to Sutton.\" \"To do what?\" \"To meet the woman who won your heart with her smile and wit once again.\" Prescott said looking over at me. \"All you have to do is come and we'll provide you with accommodations and such.\" I looked like he was crazy. Where would the accommodations and such that he was referring to? \"He can stay with my parents.\" He mouthed the phrase as Robert thought about it. Caroline was going to kill him for sure this time then dig him back up so she could smother him to death. Robert was quiet on the line for a long time. \"Does she know about this?\" he asked. \"She will once you get here,\" he answered. No one knew about this except us, Nadia, and Jen. Robert chuckled softly, \"Meddling grandchildren.\" he said. \"I don't think her husband would appreciate my presence very much.\"

195 \"That's the good news—\" I jabbed his side again but harder. \"Sort of... There is no longer a Mr. McDonald. She is all alone in this world. \"He emphasized the fact that she was lonely. \"I think seeing an ol— a friendly face would cheer her up greatly.\" We waited for him to say something. I cleared my schedule today because I was expecting time- consuming resistance. \"Okay,\" he said. \"Okay?\" We repeated looking at each other. Did we hear him right? \"Okay,\" he said. \"When should I come?\" \"How's tomorrow?\" asked Prescott.

196 Twenty-Six Of course, any reasonable person would know a day wasn't enough to just leave home and fly to another state. There were matters to attend to, pets to entrust to the care of a friend or a loved one and etc. But Robert didn't have any of those. He was a simple man living in a modest home in upstate New York. He's been there since his father shipped him off to New York University. He never left except to travel to see the world or to visit his mother. All these years, he has never married. That's why two days after we called, he was able to arrive in Sutton. I hugged him nearly tipping him off his feet. \"It's nice to meet you too,\" he said catching himself. I felt like I knew him just from hearing my grandma talk about him. Her stories of her past life became my bedtime stories every night. He could've been my grandpa if grandma had done things differently. \"Sorry,\" Prescott said gently pulling me back. \"She doesn't get out much.\" \"Oh, shut it!\"

197 Robert looked at us and smiled knowingly. \"Prescott,\" he said outstretching his hand. \"Nice to meet you sir.\" \"Nice to meet you too as well, I'm assuming your Grace.\" I teetered back and forth on my heel. \"That I am.\" I said nervously putting my hands behind my back. \"We're parked this way.\" Prescott said directing us to towards his car. I was grateful for his willingness and eagerness to drive us to the airport. I was too jittery to do so. I didn't think I would be back here until it was my time to leave. Life had a funny way of serving the unexpected. ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ \"This where she's been all these years?\" he asked looking around. We weren't in Sutton yet, but I knew what he meant. \"Yup. Did you ever think of looking for her?\" I asked. \"Yes, but I was afraid of what I might find,\" he said. \"I still am.\" he said softly. His hair was grey from old age, no longer the dirty blond locks grandma