Page 83 of Until Joy

Joy's eyes filled with tears again, but these looked different. The way she looked at me made my chest tight with an emotion I wasn't sure I was ready to name.

“All right then.” Little Grandma clapped her hands together. “That's settled. Now, when this stalker business is over, I expect to see both of you in Jasper Creek for Sunday dinner.”

“Little Grandma, it’s too soon for that,” Joy protested weakly.

“Pish posh. Mark my words, by Christmas y'all will be planning a wedding.”

Joy's mother laughed for the first time since the call started. “Little Grandma, leave them alone.”

“I'm just stating facts.” Little Grandma shrugged innocently. “Now, Graham, you make sure you call us if anything else happens. We may be in Jasper Creek, but we're not helpless.”

“Yes, ma'am, I will.”

“Good. And Joy, honey, next time something scares you, you call home. Promise me.”

Joy nodded, her throat working.

“I promise, Little Grandma.”

“That's my girl.” Little Grandma's smile was warm and full of love. “Now, y'all better get some rest. You look tired.”

“We will,” Joy said. “I love y'all.”

“We love you too, baby girl,” her mother said. “Stay safe.”

The screen went dark, and Joy slumped in her chair. I could see the weight of finally telling her family the truth had left her feeling drained, but somehow lighter at the same time.

I found her hand, threading our fingers together.

“That went well.”

Joy looked at me like I'd lost my mind. “Well? Are you kidding? Little Grandma basically just planned our wedding.”

My smile felt soft and knowing. “I know. I like her.”

“Of course you do. She likes you, which means you're stuck with all of us now.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?”

Joy studied my face, and I hoped she could see nothing but warmth and sincerity in my eyes.

“With my family? Probably both.”

I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles.

“I can live with that.”

Chapter 22

Walking into the clinic at eight in the morning felt strange after months of arriving when I knew the sun would set in just a couple of hours. The morning light streaming through the windows made everything look different, brighter somehow. Kayan was already at her desk with a steaming cup of coffee, and July emerged from the back with a clipboard in hand.

“Look who decided to join the land of the living.” Kayan grinned at me. “How'd you sleep?”

“Better than I have in weeks.” The truth surprised me. Despite everything happening, having Graham's arms around me all night was the best sleep I'd gotten since the flowers arrived.

July looked up from her clipboard. “How did the call with your family go yesterday?”

My chest tightened at the memory. “About as well as expected. Mama cried for twenty minutes.”