At Home in His Heart by Glynna Kaye Page A

their handiwork.
    “Isn’t this awesome? Great work.”
    A round of applause filled the little room.
    She promised to transcribe the mess on the board and send it to everyone for review prior to their next meeting. With Independence Day only three weeks away, they had a lot of work ahead of them.
    When the last society member departed, Sandi gathered her things, removed the whiteboard from the easel and let herself out the back door, eager to pick up Gina from Meg’s. The membership had been more supportive, more enthusiastic than she’d anticipated once they’d gotten their focus off Cate and Earl’s plan for her to make a pass at Bryce. Interestingly, she’d not heard a peep of outright criticism of Bryce or his grandma from the membership, so they must be buying the story that Mae was in need of additional funds. It seemed a bit too coincidental, though, that this sudden need arose with her grandson’s return home.
    At least none of the usual down-in-the-mouth detractors had shown up, which enabled the meeting to run more smoothly. No doubt she’d hear from them when they received the list from the brainstorming session and realized there would be work to do.
    Arms full, she awkwardly locked up, trying not to smear the unwieldy dry-erase board. As she started down the back porch steps, she glimpsed Bryce and Mae approaching fromthe driveway. He steadied his grandmother, then loped forward to take the whiteboard from her.
    “You going to the car with this?” He held it out at arm’s length, as if trying to make sense of the jumbled text.
    “What do you have here, dear?” Mae motioned to the board as she drew closer.
    “Fundraiser ideas. The city’s trimming their budget—including historical society support.”
    “Bryce told me. What can I do to help?”
    Bryce’s brows lowered as he fixed a look on Sandi that spoke volumes.
Don’t even think of telling her she can ditch the rent increase.
    “We haven’t decided which projects will give the greatest returns, but I’m optimistic we’ll make that decision shortly. I think there will be a number of things you can assist with. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
    Mae smiled at her with concern-filled eyes. “I hope you’re not overdoing it at the museum this summer. I see your car out here more often than it should be. You need to take a break. Take some time for yourself.”
    “Fortunately, I don’t require a lot of ‘me’ time.”
    “It’s healthy to get out and have some fun.”
    “Gina and I are sleeping over at her grandma’s tonight, so no cooking on my part. That’s a welcome break.”
    “An evening with a mother-in-law isn’t what I had in mind. You need to get out with young folks. Relax and enjoy adult conversation. Bryce is going to a cookout with friends next Saturday. You should join him.” She looked up at her grandson expectantly.
    Sandi met his gaze with alarm. Was Mae trying to be nice—or setting them up? She hated setups. Had been dodging them for years since Keith’s death. People meant well, but relationships couldn’t be forced. She had to have more in common with a man than merely both being single.
    He cleared his throat and his gaze flickered from his grandma to her again. “You’d be welcome to come along. They said I could bring a friend.”
    A friend. As in a date. No, thank you.
    “Thanks for the invitation, but I have so much going on right now.”
    “Which is exactly why you should go.” Mae patted her arm. “Your summer will be over before you know it.”
    It
would
be nice to get out on more than a playdate with other mothers. To think about something other than museum business. But she’d always felt guilty leaving Gina with a sitter more often than necessary.
    “She’s wavering, Bryce.” Mae nodded at her grandson. “Convince her.”
    Sandi’s eyes met his again, sensing his grandma was backing them both into a corner. “I appreciate the invitation, but—”
    “She doesn’t want to go,