“What does Darla have to do with anything?”
“There’s no one to cover for her but me, and she has a zillion appointments today. It’s decent money, and if I don’t go in, I could lose my job for not being a team player.”
Without hesitation, Dani slipped an arm around her friend. “Good thing I showed up when I did, my fellow butterfly. You can go to work and I’ll stay with your grandfather until you get home.”
She shook her head, staring at Dani with hope in her eyes. “I couldn’t ask you to do that. He’s got health issues and you were starting your job hunt today. Besides, you haven’t even met hi—”
“Elder Sister, is that your bahana friend?” The old male voice quavered with what sounded like exhaustion and weakness.
“Elder sister?” Dani asked softly. “Is he dehydrated? Confused?”
Kaya’s smile was rueful. “Kaya means elder sister and bahana, well, that basically means white.”
Dani’s lips twitched. “He doesn’t sound that confused to me.”
“Bring her inside.”
Kaya gestured toward the living room and Dani walked over to the man reclining on the couch, holding out her hand to greet him. “It’s nice to meet you, sir. I’m Dani.”
He nodded without reaching out and, after an awkward moment, she adjusted her purse strap before letting her hand drop back down to her side.
His face seemed carved out of the same material as the rocks outside. Deep lines framed his lips and eyes, and his white hair was short but wild around his head. She liked him on sight.
He glanced up at Kaya. “She’ll stay. You can go now.”
Kaya hesitated, worrying the ties on her blouse until Dany put her hand on her shoulder. “You heard the man. If we have any issues, I’ll call you right away. But I think we’ll be fine here.”
“Okay.” She went to kiss her grandfather’s weathered cheek, only to hesitate at the last minute, stopping before she could touch him. “Be nice to her. She’s the best person I know. A good one.”
“I’m not blind yet.”
Kaya’s soft muttering response made Dani smile. It was easy to see she loved her grandfather. Not as clear was why his arrival had startled her more than his means of getting here. Had he never come for a visit before?
Dani had never really had a family of her own, but Liam had flown out several times this year to spend a few days with his parents, and he’d assured her they would visit once a month if his mother’s bad back would allow it. And they lived in a different state.
Maybe Dani didn’t like the old man as much as she thought.
She followed Kaya back to the door, accepting a warm, sweet smelling hug. “Thank you for this. I know this isn’t why you came, but I really appreciate you sticking around. And I promise when I get home, we’ll talk about what happened between you and Liam.”
It really wasn’t fair, the way she did that. “I didn’t say anything.”
Kaya smiled. “No psychic vibes necessary for this one. You showing up on my doorstep and the way Liam sounded when he called half an hour ago looking for you kind of gave it away. But I will tell you not to make any rash decisions before we talk.”
How had Liam sounded?
She couldn’t think about that now. “Get out of here before Divine Darla’s clients start a riot.”
“We can’t have that.”
Dani leaned her forehead against the closed door after Kaya left. She should call Liam, let him know where she was and that she was okay. She didn’t want to hear his voice right now, not when she had to put her plan in place, but she hated to think about him worrying. She dug through her purse to search for her phone.
“He’ll wait, little lion tamer. It’s good for a man’s soul to wait for the things he wants. Teaches us the patience we’ll need for fatherhood.”
Dani looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening as the frail old man who’d looked as though he were at death’s door only a moment before stood tall in front of her, smiling as he folded his worn blanket and smoothed his hair.
Had he been faking?
“Look at that face.” He laughed out loud, and it was so genuine it made her smile in spite of her shock. “Yes, I am tired, and it was a long journey. Not as long as the one you’ve taken, from what I understand. But long enough. Now I feel like exploring my granddaughter’s home. You should join me in case I have a relapse or break a hip.”
He started walking toward the patio doors, and Dani followed him, her curiosity piqued. “Why did you want Kaya to worry?”
An old, patched up backpack sat just inside the doors, and he bent to pick it up, digging through it as she stood at his side. “How do your people make a healer come?”