As July warmed the beach there was a new development that warmed Grace’s heart. She waved to a couple on the beach, and Winnie said, “Who is it, Grace?”

“Ginger and Matt. Holding hands and strolling.” She sighed. “They’re in love and together every weekend.”

“Do I know this Matt?”

“I don’t think so, Mother. We could have them to dinner some weekend if you like. He’s very nice. He’s a farmer from north of here—the Portland area.”

“A farmer? That sounds tedious.”

Grace laughed. “It’s Peyton’s brother. They’re not very showy people but that farm is enormous and very successful. Peyton tells me Matt is a scientist with an advanced degree, science applied to farming. He’s very smart.”

As the couple stopped on the beach and kissed, Winnie made a sound. “Well, there’s what your generation calls something...public displays of something.”

“Is called PDA,” Mikhail informed her. “Public displays of affection, Babushka. Something you have never been accused of.”

Winnie leaned toward him. “I’m not agile and I’m not strong anymore, but if you call me that again I’m going to hurt you.”

That made Mikhail grin. “Is adorable name for you, my dove. Is sweet Russian name for grandmother.”

“I’d rather be a dove than a sweet Russian grandmother.”

The sound of the front door opening and closing announced the arrival of Winnie’s nurse. She yelled, “Good morning,” from the foyer. Then she migrated to the deck. “How is everyone this morning?”

“Very well,” Winnie said. “All things considered. Now, Grace, who is that boy down there by the dock?”

“I don’t think I know him, Mama. A kid from town, no doubt.”

“That’s my son, Charlie,” Lin Su said. “I’ve brought him to the beach before. Don’t worry, he’s just going to hang out while I’m with you.”

“Can’t we meet him?” Grace asked.

“I didn’t want to bring him to work, exactly. But I don’t want him to sit in front of the computer or TV all summer while he’s out of school. So on nice days I bring him along, and he gets some fresh air.”

“No, you shouldn’t allow all that TV and computer nonsense,” Winnie said. “He’ll go blind and his brain will rot. But what will he do? Sit there all day?”

“He has the run of the town. If he makes the slightest effort, he could actually meet people.”

“Oh, Lin Su, you shouldn’t let a child that young loose all day without your supervision.”

“He’s not as young as he looks,” she said. “He’s fourteen, just kind of small for his age. And when he was little he had health problems—I suppose he’s still catching up. He won’t be any trouble for you, I promise. He has money for lunch. And sunscreen and stuff in the car, like his laptop, which he can only use for an hour or two. And we have our cell phones for texting so we can keep tabs on each other.”

Winnie turned and looked up at Lin Su. “I want you to go down there and tell him he’s welcome here anytime as long as he’s not too wild or loud because sometimes I have to rest or I’m useless. Tell him you’ll make him lunch here—there’s an abundance of food, and Troy keeps buying more. He can even watch TV, just not all day—he needs air and sunshine.”

“That’s very sweet, Winnie, but—”

“I’m done talking about it. Be a good little nurse and go talk to your son.”

Lin Su turned desperate eyes to Grace. “We don’t want to be any trouble... This is my job. I’ll leave him home if—”

“You don’t have to leave him home if he’s no trouble,” Winnie said. “I didn’t know you had a son. You never mentioned it.”

“Lin Su, you must have been pretty young. You don’t look much over thirty yourself,” Grace said. “Oh, I’m sorry—that was rude. I didn’t mean to pry!”

“Maybe I’m catching up, too,” she said. “I’m not married. We make a pretty good team, me and Charlie. And now that he doesn’t need babysitting or after-school programs, we do very well. But Charlie is kind of shy...”

“My specialty,” Troy said, jumping up from his spot on the deck. “I’ll go invite him up.”

“Oh, Troy,” Lin Su said, embarrassed.

“Let him,” Grace said. “Troy needs a playmate.”

“As do I,” Mikhail said, rising a bit more slowly to follow.

Grace looked at Lin Su’s almost pleading expression and laughed. “Try not to worry, Lin Su. We’re not exactly a traditional family. Charlie might fit right in. After all, you have.”

* * *

Matt’s world had changed because of Ginger. He was experiencing life in a whole new way, in a way he hadn’t even been smart enough to long for, to hope for. Because the farm was stable, no drought, no damaging storms, no infestations or illnesses, he was sneaking away for at least three nights every week. He drove to Thunder Point on Thursday afternoon and home either Sunday night or Monday morning. Because his eyes were bright and his smile quick, Paco kept telling him to take time while he could.

“Come August, things will be crazy again,” he warned Ginger. “First the grapes—Uncle Sal’s grapes. I could probably get out of it, but I shouldn’t. Those early grapes have to be brought in and we depend on his people when the pears are ready. It’s steady for a couple of months. It’s hard work.”

“I could come to you,” Ginger said. “I could help a little. If you showed me what to do.”

“Peyton will spend a couple of weekends at the farm, she hardly ever misses it. But Grace needs you,” he said.

“Grace and I can job share a little bit. I’m good at running the front of the store and I’m getting better at creating the arrangements. I’ve had days on my own with only delivery help from Justin. I can give her a couple of days off every week if she can give me a couple of days. You don’t care when I come, do you?”

“I just can’t think about not having you next to me for more than a week,” he said. “It’s torture.”