23. Melly

23

MELLY

" W hat do you mean by that?" I asked Hazel. Ginny had always come across to me as if she cared about Bob, that he was more than just a job. She used to visit him even before his health started to fail. When he started having a hard time getting around, she'd moved in with him and taken care of all his needs. Bob hadn't acted as if he was worried about Ginny trying to steal anything from him. But would he? He might not know.

"She keeps trying to get him to sign the business over to her," Hazel said.

So he did know.

Elrik frowned. "Maybe he's okay with that."

"Maybe he is and maybe he isn't," Hazel said. "But he built that business into what it is today with a lot of hard work. Long hours that ruined his marriage."

"He's divorced?" Elrik asked.

"At least forty years ago. She moved away, and I'm not sure he's heard from her since. "

"Does he have children to inherit his business?" I asked.

Hazel shook her head. "They didn't have any. He never remarried—except to his career, I suppose. He was working long days right up until he started to get sicker. That's when Ginny moved in and started trying to take control of everything."

"He might be willing to hand it over to her since he can't do it himself any longer," I said. "He's past retirement age."

"That man will never retire." Hazel grunted. "Rose chewed Ginny out more than once, telling her to stop trying to steal his business, that if she wanted it, she could buy it just like anyone else would."

"Why would my grandmother get into the middle of that?" I asked with concern. "She rarely butts into anyone else's business."

"She's always been protective of Bob. However, I believe Ginny's help is the only reason he's able to remain in his home, and I give her credit for that. I don't hear him complaining about her handling the business end of things either, and I'm sure he'd voice concerns if he had them." She huffed. "I told Rose that myself, told her to leave it to Bob and Ginny to figure out between themselves."

"My grandmother can be quite protective," I said.

Hazel nodded slowly. "She turned down his marriage proposal, but I think she still has some feelings for him."

I gulped. "Marriage proposal?"

Hazel patted my leg again. "This was a long time ago. You were fifteen? Sixteen? About that age. Rose told me about it. He's much younger than her by at least fourteen years. She liked him quite a bit, but she couldn't see how it could work with the age gap. She also confided to me that while she cared for him, she wasn't interested in being married to someone who was already married to their job. Bob was that devoted to building his business."

"Is his business worth much?" I asked. "If he couldn't manage it any longer, it would close. If Ginny's keeping it going, then he has income from that."

"I imagine you're right. I think everyone in this town and all the surrounding ones pay premiums to Sterling for one kind of policy or another. Even I have life insurance, liability for my business, plus policies for my home and auto with Sterling. Believe me, that business is solid."

If anyone in town would know something like that, it would be Hazel.

I still couldn't get over the fact that my grandmother had considered marrying Bob. "Do you think she turned him down because of me?"

"Never that. I'm sure she would've welcomed the help raising you, though you were a sweet child. Never a bother to anyone."

That made me feel better.

I sensed we were running out of questions. When I glanced Elrik's way, he nodded, telling me he'd pretty much read my mind.

I stood, gazing down at Hazel. "What can I do for you?"

"Nothing," she said, gently touching her forehead. "I need to get up and get moving. I have classes to teach this evening. "

"Can't someone else handle them for you? I'm worried about you." She could have another seizure and be seriously injured.

"That's not a bad idea." She lifted her phone. "I'll call Judy and see if she'll cover tonight. She was just saying she needed more hours."

"Then we can take you home."

She shook her head. "No, you go on. I'll wait here for Judy. My first class doesn't start for an hour, and I'm sure she'll be willing to drive me home once she gets here. I'll lay down and rest. I promise."

I stood. "You're sure I can't get you anything? Maybe a glass of water or a bag of ice for your head?"

"I'm fine." She rose, and I could see she was steady. Her eyes were clear too. "I'll call my doctor first thing in the morning and tell him I want to go back on my old meds. They work when this new medication doesn't." She strode around the desk, and I was grateful to see she appeared to be back to her old self. "Let me walk you to the door."

I shared a look with Elrik, but we both shrugged. We couldn't make her accept our help, and I could understand her need for independence.

We followed her to the door, which she opened.

A troll family was passing on the sidewalk. The young daughter peered in through the opening, a big grin on her green face.

"Dance," she cried, her eyes bright with excitement. "Dancing."

"Tomorrow, Tria," Hazel said with a wave. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. "

"If I think of anything else, I'll give you a call," she said to me. "I want to do all I can to help you clear Rose's name. She's a special woman, and she doesn't deserve this."

"Thank you." I gave her a hug, then held her forearms, staring into her eyes. "Are you sure you don't need anything from us?"

"I'm doing alright." Hazel's smile rose, and she was just as pretty today as she'd been when she did ballet. She'd shown me pictures multiple times over the years, and the best ones hung in her office.

We stepped out onto the sidewalk.

"You talked with Sue, right?" Hazel asked.

"We did. Bob too. Carla, Ginny, and Alfred. Everyone who was there that evening."

"Good, good," Hazel said. "Did Sue tell you why she was hovering around the punch bowl but then raced out to her vehicle?"