Page 86 of When Love Takes Root

I respected that.

She had a life before me, a routine before me, ministry before me. I didn’t need to step into every room she occupied just because my chest got foolish when she entered. A man could be interested and still know how to stay in his seat.

Granddaddy leaned closer. “That her?”

I didn’t answer right away.

Juice looked over his shoulder. “The fine one with the locs?”

Granddaddy smacked his arm. “Boy, don’t say fine in front of me like I’m not elderly and sanctified.”

“You said damn two minutes ago.”

“That was medical.”

Mr. Wallace laughed so hard he started coughing, and Juice handed him his water with the dramatic seriousness of an usher catching somebody in the Spirit.

I looked back toward the activity room. Celeste had disappeared through the doorway, but I could still feel the shift she’d left behind. The room seemed more alive for having held her.

“Her name is Celeste Coleman. She owns Celestial Crowns Hair Haven. She’s a widow.”

Granddaddy’s amusement softened. “Children?”

“Five.”

“How long she been alone?”

“Long enough for everybody to think she should be fine. Not long enough for her heart to agree.”

Granddaddy’s voice lowered. “She good people?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You know that, or you want that?”

The question hit clean.

That was Granddaddy James. He could act like a fool around dominoes and peppermints, then cut straight through a man’s chest without raising his voice.

“I know enough to respect her. I want the chance to learn the rest.”

He nodded once, slow. “That’s a better answer than I expected.”

Juice leaned back. “You hear that? Growth.”

“Shut up.”

Granddaddy chuckled, then reached for his cup. I adjusted it before he had to ask, making sure the straw angled close enough for him. His fingers brushed mine when he took it, and for a second, I was ten again, standing under the porchlight while he taught me how to strip wire without nicking copper.

He took a slow sip, then looked toward the activity room. “Don’t run behind a woman with grief in her house if all you got is appetite.”

My smile faded.

Juice’s joking eased back too.

Granddaddy set the cup down, his hand trembling just enough for me to notice. “Pretty will call your eyes. Pain will test your character. Children will test your patience. A dead husband who loved her right will test your ego if you got one. You hear me?”

“I hear you.”