“I still need that diagram.”
“You know the movie Indefatigable about Charlie and his daughter, Stephanie?”
“Sure, everyone’s talking about it.”
“Grant wrote it. He also wrote Song of Solomon a few years ago and won an Oscar for that one. There’s Oscar buzz about Indefatigable, too.”
“Wow.” Jace couldn’t imagine having that kind of talent.
Sarah called them all to the table for a delicious roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad and chocolate cake for dessert.
As he ate, Jace kept a careful eye on the boys to make sure they were remembering their manners. They were perfect, chatting with Sarah, who kept up a steady stream of conversation with them about school, baseball, their crazy dog and life with Seamus and Carolina.
“She broke her leg,” Kyle said. “It was terrible. She was screaming.”
“Oh my goodness,” Sarah said. “That must’ve been so frightening.”
“It was,” Jackson said. “We didn’t know what happened at first. And Seamus said we shouldn’t look at how her leg was bent, but we did.”
“It was gnarly,” Kyle said.
“All right, fellas,” Jace said, holding back a laugh. “No gory details at dinner.”
“They’re delightful,” Sarah said to Jace when he helped clear the table after dinner. “You must be so proud of them.”
“I am, but I can’t take any credit. Their mother was the one who raised them. She did a great job.”
“Yes, she did. I know the backstory. I’m glad you’re able to spend time with them now.”
“I am, too. Thank you for having us.”
“It’s my pleasure. I’ve never seen my Cindy smile the way she does around you. It does my heart good to see that. I’ve worried so much about my kids.”
“It seems to me, as an outsider looking in, that you’ve also done a wonderful job raising your kids.”
She smiled warmly at him. “I’m proud of who they turned out to be in spite of their chaotic childhood.”
Adele linked her arm through Jace’s. “Take a stroll with me to the deck so we can talk about Cindy behind her back.”
Jace laughed at the older woman’s brazen comment. “Lead the way, ma’am.”
“Call me Adele. Ma’am makes me feel old.”
“Where are you taking him, Gram?” Cindy called from the sofa, where she was seated with her sisters and Stephanie.
“None of your business,” Adele said.
“You got the boys?” Jace asked Cindy.
She nodded as she eyed her grandmother curiously.
The boys had talked Charlie into a second piece of cake and were still at the table.
“Tell me all about you,” Adele said. “And don’t worry, I already know the bad stuff.”
“That about sums me up,” Jace said.
“That’s not true! If my Cindy sees something in you, there’s more than bad stuff.”