Free A Love Worth Waiting For and Heaven Knows by Jillian Hart Page A

timing. The coffee just finished brewing.”
    â€œI’ll take you up on that offer.” Granddad knocked the snow off his boots on the small deck before venturing inside. “Whew, it’s cold out there. We’ve got a good ten inches out there, and it’s still falling. Thought I’d warm up before I clear your driveway.”
    â€œWant some muffins?” Julie snatched a ceramic mug from the cupboard and reached for the glass carafe.
    â€œDon’t go to any trouble for me.” He went straight to the pink baker’s box on the corner of her kitchen island. “That was some party. You did a good job, girl. Sure made my Nora happy.”
    â€œI think you make her happy.” Julie filled the cup with steaming coffee. “You want sugar with this?”
    â€œTakin’ it black today.” Granddad kicked out a chair and plopped into it. “That’s a nice flower you got there.”
    â€œWhat flower?” Julie turned from the counter.
    â€œThat one, right there.”
    There, in the center of the table, right next to her devotional, was Noah’s corsage. The single white rose looked as perfect as ever.
    â€œIt’s nothing.” She gave Granddad his coffee and snatched the flower from its place on her table. “And since it’s nothing and means nothing at all, I’m going to go put this in the fridge.”
    â€œAre you gonna fess up? Tell me who bought it for you?”
    â€œIt’s top secret. Classified by the government and everything.”
    â€œYou’re fibbing, girl, and that tells me what I need to know.” Granddad looked proud of himself. “Who’s your new beau?”
    â€œNosy, aren’t you?”
    â€œJust looking out for my granddaughter. It’s a grandfather’s job.”
    â€œWell, it’s a granddaughter’s job to keep you guessing.” Julie grabbed a plate from the shelf and carried it to the table. “There is no boyfriend. You know why.”
    â€œYou just need time to find the right one, that’s all.” Granddad unwrapped his blueberry muffin. “Look at me, getting married at this time in my life. Figured I’d be alone for the rest of my days, and the Good Lord saw fit to send Nora my way. Only He knows what’s in store for you.”
    â€œI think God has already told me that.” The empty place on her left ring finger still remained both a memory and a humiliation. Only Granddad knew how much. Determined to change the subject, Julie slid the plate in front of him. “I noticed your lights were on late when I drove by last night. What were you doing up?”
    Granddad reached for the butter dish. “Couldn’t get to sleep. Guess the party had me all charged up.”
    â€œYou don’t look happy when you say that.” Julie pushed a clean knife across the table for him. It was there in the crinkle of his brow and the exhaustion dark beneath his eyes. Something was making him unhappy. “What happened?”
    â€œNora and I had a little disagreement.” Granddad dropped the muffin on his plate and left it there. He sighed, looking miserable.
    Julie wanted to comfort him, to reassure him that everything would be all right, and that he and Nora would work out their problems. But she’d been in this same place, and it hadn’t turned out okay. Wedding plans were easy enough to cancel, but the cost to the heart was staggering.
    â€œI’m sorry.” It was all she could say. “Is there anything I can do?”
    â€œYep. Help that grandson of hers pack up and get the blazes out of here.” Granddad rubbed his brow. “Pardon me for sayin’ that. I get my back up when I talk about that young man.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œI just spoke my mind. Should’ve thought about it first, but I figured it needed to be said. It wasn’t right the way he left the party like that. He’s always off