Hailey popped Grant’s chest with the back of her hand.
Wally laughed. “This guy is funny, isn’t he?”
Grant rolled his eyes. “Hailey, this is my…wow, I don’t even know what to call you now, Wally…my sister’s baby’s daddy, I guess?” Hailey elbowed Grant in the ribs as subtly as she could. “Wally, this is Hailey, my…my…” there was a short pause, “my best friend.” Grant and Hailey glanced at each other briefly, and he was relieved to find her smiling.
David walked outside, carrying Leah as she cowered against his shoulder. “Leah, look,” he cooed. “Look who’s here to see you.”
“Oh my goodness, she is precious,” Hailey exclaimed. “Look at those red pigtails!”
“Princess Leah,” Grant said, reaching for Leah’s hand and stealing a kiss.
“See,” Wally nodded to Hailey. “Princess Leah…like Princess Leia….I told you he was funny.”
“Come see, Uncle Grant. I have missed my girl…” Grant beamed as he reached for Leah.
“She hasn’t wanted to leave my arms since we got here,” David said. When Leah reached out her hands and practically lunged toward Grant, David smiled disbelievingly. “Oh, I see how it’s gonna be,” he laughed. “You were just making do with Daddy, but Uncle Grant’s here now!”
As Grant nuzzled noses with Leah, David and Hailey introduced themselves.
“Who loves you? Who loves you?” Grant cooed as he showered Leah’s cheek with kisses. “Can you say hello to Hailey?” Grant took Leah’s hand in his and forced a little wave.
“Hi, Leah,” Hailey waved back
“Listen, Grant,” David exhaled, “I just want to take this opportunity to tell you in person that…”
“David, I know. You’ve told me,” Grant cut him off.
“I can’t believe that you’d…” David’s voice fell off, overcome with gratitude.
“It’s your money, David. It was a gift, no strings attached,” Grant nodded as he stroked Leah’s back. “Everything has been run through the proper channels; the money is yours now to spend, save and invest as you see fit.”
“Thank you,” David said, reaching out his hand to shake his brother’s. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Grant gripped David’s hand firmly, both graduates of Randy Cohen’s Manly Handshakes 101 course. “You’re welcome,” Grant nodded.
Melissa rushed outside when she noticed her baby girl out in the yard, cuddled lovingly in the arms of her uncle. “I didn’t know you were here yet!” she exclaimed as she ran across the front yard.
She swept Grant and Leah into a hug at once. “Oh, Sweetheart, I can’t even begin to tell you how thankful I am for everything you’ve done for us,” she cried. “It means the world to David and me…and, of course, to Leah.”
“I wish I could do more,” Grant said, hugging her tightly. “Money is one thing, but…”
“Oh my goodness!” Melissa exclaimed suddenly, catching a glimpse of Hailey for the first time out of the corner of her eye. “Is this your girlfriend?”
Grant smiled. “Well, Mel, she is my friend, and she is a girl, so…”
Melissa shot Grant eyes that said in astonishment, she’s the girl from the picture! Grant winked at her, and Melissa did a quick, little, happy shuffle.
“Mel, this is Hailey Nelson,” David smiled at Hailey. “She’s Jack’s older daughter.”
Melissa greeted Hailey with a hug. “It is so nice to finally meet you,” she exclaimed. “I’m Melissa, the nosy sister-in-law,” she laughed.
“So nice to meet you,” Hailey smiled graciously. “You have a beautiful daughter.”
“Thank you, Hailey,” Melissa said, reaching for her little girl. “I met your dad inside; he seems very sweet,” she went on.
“And brave apparently,” David added.
“Yeah, so how are things going in the asylum?” Grant grumbled.
“You could cut the tension with a knife, my friend,” David sighed. “Remind me again whose bright idea this was?”
“It wasn’t mine,” Grant assured him as he reached for Hailey’s hand, and they headed inside.
“It looks like we might get a little thunder shower later,” David said, gazing up at the sky.
Wally chased a strange, shaggy, white dog across the front porch as everyone else went on inside.
Emily and Jessica were engrossed in conversation when, suddenly, Jessica’s mouth fell open, causing Emily’s head to turn. “They’re holding hands,” Jessica whispered with a squeal.
Emily danced about making a mock clapping motion as she and Jessica bounced up and down excitedly.
When Hailey’s eyes fell on them, they stopped and went back to talking as though they had never noticed a thing.
“Here goes nothing,” Grant whispered as they approached Granny.
“Be nice; just say something cordial, and leave it at that,” Hailey urged.
“Hello, Granny. Happy Thanksgiving,” Grant smiled.
