Mind Games

Bray slid down Ty’s back, pushed through his legs. And all but fell on Bunk. “Love doggie!”

“I’d say that’s mutual. He really does love kids.” She could see boxes in the big car. “You drove down from Philadelphia?”

“Yeah. Tell me why I thought that was a good idea with a four-year-old.”

“Well, you’ll want your car here, so there’s that. Still, a long trip. I’m sure you’re tired, so I won’t keep you. If there’s anything I can do while you’re here, I’m about a quarter mile back, right off this lane.”

“Appreciate it. Say bye, Bray.”

“Wanna go with Bunk.”

“Bunk has to take his nap.” Thea caught Ty’s look of gratitude for the easy out. “But he’ll come back and visit another time. Say bye, Bunk.”

The dog sat, waved his paw.

“We’re just up the lane,” she reminded Ty. “Welcome to Redbud Hollow.”

She had to force herself not to look back. All these years, she thought, Miss Leona had never said anything about Tyler Brennan, rock star, songwriter, Grammy winner, being her great-grandson.

Of course, she couldn’t recall gushing over him and his music to Miss Leona.

But still!

Now her teenage crush would stay—a few days, a couple weeks?—almost within shouting distance. With his little boy. She hadn’t known he had a little boy. Of course, she hadn’t kept up with Tyler Brennan’s life and times.

Very much.

She thought of the work she had to do, and she’d do it. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t throw some dinner together. After all, the man had come all the way from Philadelphia, with a preschooler in tow.

The least she could do as a neighbor was save him from making a meal.

* * *

He didn’t know if the giant dog napped, but by the time Ty had made up a bed, Bray conked.

He said a quiet hallelujah.

While his son slept, he unpacked the essentials. Stored away the food basics he’d stopped for in what turned out to be a pristine refrigerator, pristine cupboards.

He’d expected to have to deal with some of the cleaning himself, and wondered if he owed the long-legged Thea and her family yet another thanks.

The estate lawyer had dealt with all Leona’s files and paperwork. His granny had been meticulous there. And her instructions upon her death clearly spelled out.

She’d wanted him to have this house, this land. He wondered: If she’d died before Braydon came into his life, would he have sold it? Kept it for a kind of vacation hideaway?

He honestly didn’t know.

But Braydon had come into his life, and a woman he’d loved had wanted this for him.

So they’d see.

They had the summer ahead of them to see how they’d fit.

His parents thought he’d lost his mind. But then again, they’d thought the same thing when he’d wanted to make music his life’s work.

His grandmother had stepped far away from Redbud Hollow, and had no emotional attachment here. While fond of her mother, Willa Rowe Brennan hadn’t felt a strong connection to her roots.

And since he’d been born and raised in Philadelphia, Ty’s father had felt no connection at all.