"The library committee met this afternoon,” Catherine went on to say. She sat on the leather wing-backed chair, where she could easily see the front door.
"Were you able to hammer out a budget?” Joy asked, claiming the chair next to her.
"Yes, but it’s difficult when there are so many books we’d like to buy. Several of the members think we should order the new audio tapes. It’s getting hard for some of us to read these days, even with the books in larger print. Unfortunately there just aren’t enough funds to purchase everything we’d like.”
"It’s hard, I know,” Joy agreed. "Perhaps you should think of holding a fund-raiser. With only a few weeks to Christmas, you could make it a festive occasion and serve cookies and tea.”
"Naturally we’d invite everyone to participate.” Already Catherine could see the wisdom of such a plan. "We won’t charge anything to attend our tea, but we could ask for donations.”
"I’m sure the library committee would do an excellent job.”
"I know they would,” Catherine agreed. "What a great suggestion. Thank you, Joy. I’ll speak with the committee members first thing tomorrow morning.”
Ted appeared just then, holding open one side of the double glass doors. "Here’s my grandson now,” Catherine said.
"You haven’t got a thing to worry about,” Joy assured her softly, then stood and discreetly disappeared.
Catherine’s eyes didn’t waver from the front door. How eager she was to meet this woman who’d captured her grandson’s attention! The woman who preceded him into the retirement center was sophisticated and professional looking. Catherine discovered she was holding her breath. Ted’s lady friend was exceptionally lovely.
Catherine stood as her grandson approached. Ted’s eyes met hers and were bright with laughter. He was tall and handsome and the joy of Catherine’s life. How very proud she was of her grandson, of his accomplishments, of the distinguished young man he’d grown up to be. Seeing Ted was like looking at the very best of herself and Earl.
"Grandmother,” Ted said, placing his arm around her thin shoulders, "it gives me a good deal of pleasure to introduce you to Blythe Holmes.”
"Blythe,” Catherine said, taking the other woman’s hand between her own. "I couldn’t be more honored.”
Only a hint of warmth entered the younger woman’s blue eyes. "The pleasure’s all mine,” Blythe said.
"I’ve arranged for us to have tea in my room,” Catherine said nervously.
It seemed Blythe hadn’t heard her. She looked around the room, studying the artwork on the walls. Catherine watched as the younger woman’s gaze landed on Catherine’s friends and then bounced away dismissively. Blythe frowned when she saw Charles, a retired army officer. Charles sometimes forgot who and where he was.
Catherine felt Blythe’s aversion to Charles, although he was doing nothing more than staring sightlessly into the distance and mumbling nonsense to himself. She found herself wanting to defend the retiree, explain what a gentle, kind man he was, and tell Ted’s friend that he’d once been a war hero. Of course, she could do none of that.
"This is very…nice,” Blythe said with a lack of sincerity. It was as if she had to say something, and "nice” was the only word she could think to utter. Until that moment Catherine had never noticed how weak the word nice could be.
"Would you like a tour of Wilshire Grove?” Catherine asked, proud of her home and wanting to show it off.
"No,” Blythe said, but thanked her for the invitation with a smile.
Catherine led the way to the elevator, chatting nervously as she escorted her guests inside. She watched as Ted reached for Blythe’s hand and felt her heart warm.
"We each have our own apartment,” Catherine explained for Blythe’s benefit when they reached hers. "I have a small kitchen, although I rarely cook these days. However, I did manage to bake a batch of Ted’s favorite cookies this morning.”
"Chocolate chip?” Ted asked, his eyes as round and eager as a five-year-old’s.
"Chocolate chip,” Catherine said, and laughed softly. She motioned toward the overstuffed sofa. "You two make yourselves comfortable while I put on the water for tea.”
"Let me help,” Ted insisted, following Catherine into the kitchen. The moment they were out of earshot he snatched a cookie off the silver platter and leaned his hip against the counter. "Isn’t she beautiful?” he asked, looking at Blythe as if he’d located buried treasure the day he’d met her.
"She’s as lovely as a fashion model,” Catherine agreed, delighted to see his dark eyes sparkle. Her grandson was in love. Catherine had been waiting years for this moment. Ted was thirty, and it was time he started thinking seriously about settling down.
Catherine looked across her compact living room to Blythe. She had crossed her long legs and leaned back against the sofa, but there was a restlessness about her. Of course she might be wrong, but Catherine sensed a sadness there.
With a shake of her head, Catherine pulled her gaze and her thoughts away from her female guest. It was too soon for her to make such sweeping judgments, she chided herself, wondering why she would think such thoughts about a woman she barely knew.
Ted carried the tray into the living room for her.
Sitting on the edge of her cushion, Catherine served them each a cup of tea. Ted helped himself to a second cookie.
"Should you really be eating that?” Blythe asked Ted.
"Eating what?” he asked innocently, and winked at Catherine.
"I thought you said you were watching your fat intake.”
"I am.” He reached for another and handed it to her. "No one makes chocolate-chip cookies the way my grandmother does. When I was a kid I used to wonder how she could make them taste so good. I still don’t know her secret. Perhaps she’ll give you the recipe.”
"I’d be happy to, Blythe,” Catherine volunteered.