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“You should be resting,” Marissa said.

“I already tried to rest.” Ruby brushed a stray hair away from her cheek. “Every time I close my eyes I see her struggling to catch a breath and coughing. I kept praying for her to stop coughing, but then...” She shuddered. “I can’t figure out why someone would take Anne away from us. She was still so young.”

Ellie snorted. “Honey, she wasn’t that young.”

Ruby’s eyes snapped to her cynical friend. “She was seventy-five.”

“And that’s some young filly?” Ellie pushed the vase of fresh-cut flowers to the side, the jade color of her eyes intensified.

Ruby slammed a nine of spades onto the pile of cards. “It is when you’re seventy-two.”

Marissa patted her hand. “You got a lot of life in you for an old lady.”

She pulled her fingers back. “Don’t give me that baloney, I’m only six months older than you.”

Marissa smiled and said in a singsong voice, “Still older.”

A rush of warm air announced a visitor. Ruby’s grandson, Jake, strode through the sliding glass doors. His broad shoulders stretched his dress shirt thin. His tie was loose, his dark hair unruly, his face rough with a couple day’s growth. Marissa sighed and drew her hot pink fingertips to her heart.

Ellie fluttered nonexistent eyelashes. “If that isn’t the hottest man I’ve ever seen.”

Marissa gasped. “That’s a crude word, young lady. He’s not hot.” She whistled. “He’s fine.”

Ruby’s heart swelled, she ignored her friends and smiled at Jake.

He reached them, bent and kissed her cheek. “I came the first break I had. How’re you holding up?”

Ruby breathed in Jake’s warm cologne and felt wetness building behind her eyelids. She hadn’t cried when Anne stopped breathing. She hadn’t cried while she waited twenty minutes for the EMT’s. She hadn’t cried when the policeman and mortician had scoffed at her story, then covered her friend’s body with a thin sheet and hauled her away. But one kind word from her grandson and she turned into a blubbering idiot.

She blinked. “Sit down, sweetheart.”

He pulled out a leather-upholstered chair and reached for her hand. “How are you?”

“I’m okay.” She sniffed.

Jake titled his dark head to the side. His long-lashed eyes lowered. “Don’t you lie to me. You look upset.”

Ruby bit her lip, swiping at a tear that escaped. “I’m damn mad.”

He jerked. “Grandma!”

She nodded, loving the release of the anger. “Well, I am. It wasn’t Anne’s time. Someone killed her and the policeman thought I was an idiot. He said that old people just die and she was one of the lucky ones.”

“Are you mad at the police or mad because Anne’s gone?”

She looked away. “A little of both.” Her head whirled to stare into her grandson’s dark gaze. “Stop psycho-analyzing me, Jake.”

He grinned.

“Whoo-ee,” Ellie said. “You can psycho-whatever me, anytime you like.” She extended her frail fingers, tilting her grey-spiked head to the side. “If you’ll hold my hand.”

Jake smiled. Releasing Ruby’s hand, he took Ellie’s fingers in his long grasp. “Sorry to neglect you, Aunt Ellie.” He cast a sideways glance at Ruby, she nodded to assure him she was all right.

“Forget this aunt business. We ain’t blood.” Ellie winked. “I’m young enough you could think seriously about taking me to dinner sometime.”

Marissa groaned. “You’re over seventy years old woman. Stop throwing yourself at the boy.”

Jake turned to Marissa. “How are you, Marissa?”

She shook her head. “We’re all so affected.”

Ellie winked. “Some of us more than others.”

Ruby glared at her friend. “How can you be so flippant about death?”

“Oh, good crimony, Rubes. We’re all gonna die, what’s wrong with it? So, we’ll miss Anne. She’s with Jamison now and that baby she lost.” She shook a small fist at Ruby. “Think about it. She’s holding that baby. Stop being so darn selfish and look at the bright side.”

Ruby tapped her fingers on her arm. Her once firm skin seemed even squishier today. “It wasn’t her time to go.”

“That’s the Lord’s call, not yours,” Ellie said.

Ruby glared at her. “Not if someone poisoned her.”

“Oh, no, not this again.” She patted Ruby’s hand condescendingly. “Let the authorities deal with it, sweetie.” Ellie angled to face Jake, closing the door on Ruby’s suspicions. “Are you going to play with us? It’s Baseball in memory of our sweet Anne.”

Jake shrugged. “Deal me in. I cleared my schedule until after lunch.”

Marissa gathered the cards and reshuffled. “How are the babies today?”

He smiled. “Fat and squawking.”

Michael Trapper sauntered down the curving staircase from the second story. His graying hair was combed perfectly. His tailored pants and golf shirt complimented his tall, lean form. Card games throughout the room halted. No woman could concentrate on Gin Rummy when that man walked their direction. Ruby should’ve looked away, but lacked the self-control. He approached their table with a compassionate smile. Startling blue eyes focused in on Ruby.

“I was sorry to hear about Anne.”

His voice rippled across the space separating them. Ruby nodded curtly, if she spoke he might recognize how deeply his silken voice still affected her. Ellie kicked her under the table.

“Ouch.” She glared at Ellie, then swung her eyes back to the tall man overshadowing her chair. “Thank you, Mr. Trapper,” she managed to say.

He raised an eyebrow. “How many times have I asked you to call me Michael? We’ve known each other since grade school when I used to run around and try to make you show me your ruffled undies.” He winked. “I liked the purple ones.”

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