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)
With a hand on Edith’s shoulder, Ava said, “I’ll run to my office and get my nail kit. That pretty pink polish you love is inside.” Then she turned to Ransom. “Will you be okay for a few minutes?”
He wanted to laugh. It was as if she’d forgotten all the times he’d visited his grandmother. “Edith and I will be fine.” After he waved her off, he sat at the table with Edith. “Your nails are beautiful as they are. But I’m sure Ava will perfect them.”
Edith, her silvery curls bouncing, leaned forward to put her hand over his. “She’s such a dear. I know she’s a busy woman, but she never seems to mind doing my nails.”
With a smile, Ransom said, “She’s a gem.” Edith couldn’t know how much he meant it.
“She must have been a manicurist in a past life. She does the most amazing job.” Holding up her fingers, bent at the joints, she surveyed her nails. “With these hands,” she said, acknowledging her arthritis, “it makes me so happy when my nails are pretty.”
They chatted about the weather, about how much Edith had enjoyed lunch, with a description of each dessert she’d had, until Ava returned, setting her nail kit on the table.
Taking the seat beside Edith, Ava angled the chair. “They don’t look so bad, Edith. But I’ll pretty them all up.”
“Thank you, dear.” Her eyes shone.
Ava removed the old polish, buffing and filing, while the three of them chatted. Edith enthused about her son’s visit the previous Sunday, and how he’d brought all the grandchildren, as well as a couple of great-grandchildren. Ava’s smiles and her attention made the woman feel special.
He would make sure those Sunday brunches were the best, now that he’d seen how important they were to Edith and all the lovely people living here.
As Ava began painting Edith’s nails, another woman entered the lounge, walking toward them, a cane gripped tight in her hand.
“Oh goody. We’re having a nail party.” She looked at Ransom, blinking rapidly, which might have been a fluttering of her eyelashes. “Can you do my nails?” The words seemed to tumble out of her.
Before Ava could speak, he said, “I’d love to. Ava has several different polishes. Why don’t you pick out your color?”
Ava stared at him, her mouth agape. Ransom smiled inwardly. Oh yeah, he still had some surprises for her. He’d been known to do his niece’s nails, and his brother’s little girl always loved it. He didn’t see the family often enough, so it pleased him to be able to help this sweet lady.
Standing formally, he pulled out a chair. “Let me help you.” He hung her cane on the side of the table and helped her to settle. Then he put a hand to his chest. “My name is Ransom.”
The lady gave a craggy smile resembling Edith’s and beamed at him through blue eyes slightly cloudy with cataracts. “I’m Myrtle,” she said. “And I love having my nails done.” She chose a bottle of coral polish and held it out to him. “Can you do this one?” The excitement in her voice seemed to shimmy down her arms, making her hand shake as she gave him the bottle.
“Of course.” He held her hand in his, squeezing with the lightest pressure.
Ava watched him warily. He could almost see her mind working, probably thinking she’d have to redo his work. But he got busy removing the chipped polish from Myrtle’s nails.
“You look familiar,” Myrtle said, her gaze on him. “Have you been here before with…?” She waved her hand at Ava.
“No.” He smiled. “I’ve never been here.”
“You might have seen him on TV,” Ava said. “Ransom has a cooking show. Recipes from Ransom.”
So she knew the name of his show.
Edith and Myrtle gasped at the same time. “Oh my,” Edith said, her cheeks turning pink. “You’re the hottie who makes all those delicious meals.”
Ransom laughed. “Thank you very much. I’m glad the meals I cook look delicious.”
Ava looked at him and mouthed, Hottie?
He raised a brow. And wondered if she still thought he was a hottie after all these years.
The ladies asked him all manner of questions, not letting him answer one before they asked another. The two dears did most of the talking, as if they were starved for conversation with someone younger than they were, someone perhaps who reminded them of their children or grandchildren.
Ava was putting on Edith’s second coat of polish, and he’d just finished buffing Myrtle’s nails, when Edith said, “You know, I miss Lochlan terribly. He was such a dear man. And his niece is such a lovely girl. She did my nails, too, while she was here.”
He wondered who Lochlan was even as Ava said, “I miss him, too, and I’m so glad I could help him stay here.” She put her palm over the back of Edith’s hand. “And now, Cammie, his niece, is dating my brother.” She actually seemed to beam as brightly as the two ladies.