Kara Lennox - Tame An Older Man

"Don't you need this, Phoebe?"

Phoebe whirled around, her heart in her throat, to see Helen standing in the living room holding Phoebe's purse, a big smile on her face.

"How… what…" Phoebe's face burned. "Didn't you want to see the cactus?"

"I came back in to find my glasses. Don't look so stricken, dear. I already knew about you and Wyatt."

"How?"

"We ran into Frannie on our way into the building. She couldn't wait to spill the beans. We couldn't be happier. And don't worry, I remember what it was like to be young and in love." Helen stepped closer and handed Phoebe her purse. "Run home, now. I'll pretend like I never saw you."

Phoebe gave her a quick hug. "I think of you as my grandmother, you know."

"Well, I try. I'm sorry you didn't know your real grandma very well. But trust me when I say she would have been very happy to see you settled with Wyatt. She liked Wyatt."

"Wyatt knew my grandmother?"

Helen nodded. "I think that might be why she left you her condo in her will. She and I, well, we always thought the two of you might make a good couple."

"Why, you schemers!"

The French doors from the balcony opened, and Rolland stepped inside. "Helen? Can't you find your- oh, hello, Phoebe."

"Phoebe stopped in for coffee," Helen said smoothly, taking Phoebe's arm as if she'd just arrived. She picked up her glasses from an end table where she'd left them, and they all joined Wyatt outside. He looked slightly surprised to see Phoebe, but he didn't hesitate to slip an arm around her and draw her next to him on the picnic table bench where he sat.

"I guess now's as good a time as any to tell you guys there've been a few changes while you were away…"

Phoebe sat back and let Wyatt enjoy breaking the joyful news, even though she knew Rolland and Helen already knew. Her happiness bloomed, just the way Helen's prickly cactus had bloomed when it got the right amounts of sun, water, love and a stern talking-to.