Chapter Two

Dre smiled at Ms. Weldonone last time and went back through the school to exit the front doors. Once outside, the afternoon heat and sunshine assaulted him. He tugged the sunglasses from the neck of his shirt and slid them on before he got into his truck and revved the engine to life.

Minutes later, knowing Jamaal wouldn't be out of practice for at least an hour, he turned into the parking lot of Chuck's Grocery Store. At the parking spots closest to the front door, an elderly man leaned against the trunk of an early model Nova with four people standing near him. Three of them had their heads down typing on phones and taking photos while a police officer wrote in a notebook. The Nova had a broken taillight and a dent in the fender.

He parked in a spot not too close and got out. He recognized the cop, Darcy Hunter. Darcy was his friend Kasey's brother. Since Dre often did benefits for the Katy Police Department, he'd more than likely have known any police officer who was on the case.

A black Mini Cooper zoomed into the slot next to the Nova. Ms. Weldon hopped out.

What were the odds he'd run into her here?

Her blonde curls gleamed in the sunshine. His fingers tingled to feel it, learn its texture.

"Sorry it took me so long," she apologized as she made her way to the aged man's side. "My phone GPS is possessed. It directed me in circles."

"Everyone, this is my granddaughter, Quinn."

She waved to the three others as they shook her grandfather's hand and crossed the traffic lane.

"Quinn, I'm Officer Hunter. Your grandfather insists he feels fine and no one was in the cars he backed into, so the only damage is to the cars."

Her shoulders sagged, as if in relief.

As Dre approached, she faced away from him.

"Your grandfather and I were discussing his gas pedal extender." Darcy grimaced. "He explained while backing out the gas pedal got stuck, and that's why he clipped three cars."

"Three?" She spun her head toward the cars leaving the lot. When she did, her forehead wrinkled in surprise when she saw Dre.

"Hey, Dre. What brings you here," Darcy called.

He forced himself to look away from Ms. Weldon's extraordinary green eyes and spoke to Darcy. "Grocery shopping."

~

Stunned, Quinn blinkedwhen Mr. Biel spoke to the officer. What was he doing here?

After the officer and Mr. Biel, who apparently knew each other well, shook hands and bro-hugged, Grandpa stepped forward and held out his hand to the football player. "I'm Ivan Weldon. It's fantastic to meet you, A.B. I've watched you play ball for years."

With a pump of Grandpa's hand, Mr. Biel smiled. "Please call me Dre." His gaze landed on her, clearly suggesting she use the name as well. "Your granddaughter and I were in a meeting when she received your call. Imagine my surprise at seeing her here. I hope you don't mind me checking on you both."

"I appreciate it." Grandpa beamed. She'd never seen him so excited.

How sweet of Dre to take the time to check on them, the simple gesture brought Grandpa so much joy. For that alone she could kiss him. Not to mention the delight she felt at seeing him again. Sunglasses hid his eyes, stealing her chance to see what they looked like in the sunlight.

"Did I hear something about a gas pedal extender?" he asked. "I'm thinking of having one installed on my mother's car."

"I used a block of wood for years but failed inspection a few months ago and had to change it."

"Grandpa's right leg is shorter than his left from an injury he sustained while he served in the Army," she defended, feeling protective of him.

"Thank you for your service, Mr. Weldon, and I'm sorry to hear about your injury." The policeman's lips made a straight line. "I can't allow anyone to drive the Nova until we know the pedal won't get stuck again. Do you have a mechanic?"

Her grandfather tilted his head. "Yes. The one who did such a bang-up job installing the extender. Think I should call him?"

At first, everyone held silent, then Grandpa chuckled, and they all laughed.

"Cesar's Body Shop is close, and his prices are fair. If you'd like, I can call and ask him to tow the Nova to his shop," Officer Hunter offered.

"I'd appreciate that." Grandpa slid into the driver's seat of the Nova.

The policeman pulled out his phone and walked a few feet away.

Dre stepped closer to her and pointed at the officer with his thumb. "I'm glad Darcy recommended Cesar's. I would've suggested the same."

Her grandfather got out of his car, keys jangling, with a small grocery bag in one hand.

"I better go." Dre shook Grandpa's hand.

"You stay healthy, son."

"I'll try." He turned to her, his hand still out. "It was a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Weldon."

"Quinn." She slid her hand into his and heat flooded her body. His hand, twice the size of hers, held hers gently while being masculine. She softly uttered, "To answer your question from earlier, I'm twenty-seven."

He took off his sunglasses. His playful brown eyes sparkled in the late afternoon sunshine. "That old?"

A laugh bubbled from her. Their hands held a second longer before he let go. He spoke quietly to Officer Hunter and then entered the store through the sliding glass doors.

She watched him.

"What a nice young man," Grandpa said.

When Dre walked out of sight, she cracked her neck. "Did you call Grandma?"

"I did. She suggested I call you. I didn't mean to interrupt your meeting and be a bother."

"You're never a bother."

"I hope you feel the same way when they come for Betsy and we follow them to the shop so I know they don't abuse her. Plus, I need to get a quote on how much repairs will cost." He'd had the Nova since the first year it was manufactured in 1962.

"That's fine." Although she had a lot to do, papers to grade and lesson plans to write, her grandparents took precedence over everything. She moved to Katy for a new start and quickly realized how much her grandparents needed help.

Now, her life revolved around them. She didn't mind, truly, yet at times it overwhelmed her. During the summer, and even now with the school year started, she did everything in her power to drive them where they needed to go. The wreck today shouldn't have happened. But for some reason, Grandma never put everything she needed on the list when Quinn shopped for them twice a week, and Grandpa usually had to go to the store each day.

When Quinn grasped how much help her grandparents needed, she'd gone to Chasing Time, the retirement village Dre helped fund, and surveyed the place. She'd marveled at the village with individual houses and an apartment building as well as a tiny medical clinic. It appeared to be the loveliest place with lots of walking trails, a lake, a nine-hole par-three golf course, and a dog park. Hell, she wanted to live there. When she showed the brochures to her grandparents, Grandpa acted interested before her grandmother gathered them up and threw them in the trash. She also refused to listen when Quinn brought up hiring someone to help them on the days she worked.

Dre's comment about how elderly people liked their independence rang true of her grandmother.

Astonished Dre's handsomeness and notoriety didn't make her nervous or on edge, she wanted the comforting feeling she'd experienced when they were talking, or he was near.

His kind eyes seemed to glimpse inside her soul.

She feared the loneliness he might see there.

Family is not an important thing. It is everything. ~ Michael J. Fox