Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Ava patted her shoulder. “You mustn’t miss that.” When the little lady was gone, Ava said to Ransom, “I’m so glad she doesn’t remember that horrible incident. She’s the woman I told you about. The reason I fired the caterer.”
“Then I’m doubly glad she remembers armchair volleyball.”
Ava gazed fondly after the woman’s retreating figure. “We provide lots of activities, yoga, and exercise classes to help everyone keep in shape. There’s also bingo and bridge and other card games. Plus, we have guests come in for concerts and lectures on various topics.” She couldn’t help putting her hand on his arm. “We also have some marvelous musicians and knowledgeable people right here. Some of our events are put on by our very own, which everyone loves.”
“It’s great you provide so many things to keep people’s minds active as well as their bodies.”
She nodded. “We even have shopping trips into town and to the outlet mall.”
When he said, “I’m impressed,” she felt herself glow with his praise.
After trying so hard to please her parents—and never feeling like she had—she’d eventually taught herself not to need people to notice her accomplishments. Though her brothers and sister complimented each other as a matter of course, it was different with Ransom. It was like being that young girl again who’d suddenly made her parents notice her. Like the twenty-one-year-old woman who’d wanted always to please Ransom.
But she wasn’t that young woman anymore, and she couldn’t let herself get carried away by his praise. She couldn’t need it. “Would you like to see the dining room and kitchen now, since that’s what we’re here for?”
Ransom gave a flourish of the hand. “Please, lead on.”
The same plush salmon carpet led into the dining room. Tables for two sat along either side, one looking out over the rose garden patio that so many of the residents loved, the other overlooking the green lawn of the quad and the steps and wheelchair ramp up to the auditorium beyond it.
The rest of the tables in the room were set up in groups of four or six. Many were already being cleared and laid for dinner as lunchtime wound down.
A woman still seated at a table waved at her, and Ava waved back. “I’ll just be a minute. I need to say hello to Edith. Take a look around, then we’ll tour the kitchen.”
But Ransom followed her, even as he seemed to catalog the setup, while Ava took one of Edith’s hands in both of hers. “You look amazing, as always.” But Edith’s mouth drooped into a frown. “What’s wrong?”
Edith pulled from Ava’s grasp and held out both hands. “My nails are atrocious. Can you do them with that pretty pink polish like we did last time?”
Ava didn’t hesitate. “Of course, Edith.” She turned to Ransom, saying, “I hope you don’t mind. It won’t take long. You can get a head start checking out the kitchen. You don’t need me for that.”
“I’ll stay with you. I’d rather have your input on the kitchen.” Then he smiled at Edith. “And I’d love to get to know this beautiful lady.”
Edith beamed at him like a star bright in the sky and clapped her hands. “Oh goody. I always like to have a handsome man nearby.”
Ransom did a waiter’s bow. “Thank you for the compliment, dear lady.”
Edith giggled, completely charmed.
She wasn’t the only one.
* * *
Ava waved down a passing server. “Could you get Edith’s walker, please?”
The man nodded, rushing off to do her bidding. Obviously, he was part of the new group she’d hired for the next two weeks.
He returned promptly with the walker, which, Ransom realized, had been stored outside to avoid crowding the dining room. Ava took over, situating the walker in front of Edith and taking her arm to help her grab the handles.
It wasn’t only the complex that impressed him. It was Ava herself. He loved watching her with her people. When they saw her, they simply lit up. She’d reached for each of their hands, smiling, saying hello, knowing all their names. That was extraordinary considering how many facilities she owned. The way she helped Mrs. Hansen with her sweater, her hands careful, her smile caring, had bathed his heart in warmth. Her concern for Mrs. Greeley, the woman who had been abused by the former caterers, was further proof of Ava’s heart of gold.
They walked slowly across the vestibule and into the lounge, where Ava strode ahead to pull out a chair. Then, once again, Edith was seated.
“I’ll just put your walker over here in the corner,” she told the lady.
Edith said, “Oh, thank you, dear.”
Two sofas flanked a fireplace in the pleasantly decorated lounge. It was empty now of residents, but several card tables waited for their return, and a grand piano sat in the corner ready for the next recital. The latest bestsellers and DVDs filled two bookcases, and another held puzzles and games. A big-screen TV hung next to the fireplace, probably for a movie night.