Taking Connor

So many people talk about purpose. Why are we here? What were we meant to do with our time here? I haven’t quite figured out my purpose just yet, but I know, with all certainty, Meryl Stevens was put here to love those who lacked love in their lives. That saying when God closes a door, he opens a window; well Blake and Co

“You look stu

I chuckle as I stand and put my hands on my hips. “Not since I saw you last week.”

“Well, you do,” she states. Then she looks up at Co

Co

“Well, you two are going to inflate my ego and make my head five times bigger.”

They both watch me for a moment, but it’s Co

I tear my eyes away and clear my throat. “Shall we play a game today?”

“Oh, yes,” Meryl replies. “I have a good one.”

We spend the next hour in the rec room of the nursing home playing ‘Who am I?’

Everyone writes down a name and passes it to the person next to them, but that person can’t look. They have to lick the back of the paper and stick it to their foreheads. Then you take turns asking questions trying to figure out who you are. Again, I loved watching Co

After we finish playing, I excuse myself to give them some time alone. I walk around outside and call Wendy to let her know we’ll be stopping by her house in a bit after we go to Meryl’s storage unit and collect some of Co

When I go back in, Co

“Blake arranged everything. I’m just carrying out his wishes,” I point out.

She gives me a sideways look, her mouth twisting. “All for Blake is it?” As I said before, Meryl is loving, sweet, cute as a button. Now, let me add blunt to the list. She doesn’t mince words.

I look at her and open my mouth to speak, but she stops me by saying, “You two are attracted to one another. Anyone can see it. Even a half-blind old lady like me.”

“Meryl, I—”

“Blake would have liked it, ya know? He loved you so much Demi. And he loved Co

My brows rise. Is she trying to set me and up . . . with Co

“You ready to go Demi?” Co

“Oh, uh, yes,” I stutter, awkwardly. Leaning over, I kiss Meryl’s cheek. “See you next week?”

“I hope so.” She smiles. Co

After the quick detour to Meryl’s storage unit to pick up some boxes of Co

When I walk in, Co

“Stop it,” she hisses at her two children squabbling beside her.

“It says your card is declined,” the cashier drones out, clearly a

The woman gives Co

The cashier lets out an a

Fumbling through her wallet, quite the feat while holding a baby, she pulls out another card and hands it to the cashier. “Try this one.”

“Declined,” the cashier grumbles after he swipes it. He’s not even trying to be discreet about it which makes me want to wring his neck.

“I don’t understand. I know there’s money in the account,” the woman explains quietly. “Will you try it one more time?”

With a dramatic huff, the cashier swipes her card one more time, almost immediately handing it back to her. “Declined,” he sneers. “Ma’am, I have other customers in line.”

Her face goes bright red as she lifts the baby higher on her hip and grabs the hand of one of the children. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs, shooting an apologetic look to Co

The poor woman looks mortified as she moves to rush out, but Co

“Hold on a minute,” Co

“One-hundred-forty-two,” the cashier replies, a

“Oh, thank you, but no. I couldn’t let you do that,” the woman sniffles. She’s so humiliated, she’s tearing up.

“I want to,” he tells her. “I’m paying for her groceries, and I need to add forty dollars in gas on pump seven.” Then looking back at me, as I stare at him in awe while holding five candy bars, says, “And those candy bars, too.”

With everything, the total is one-hundred-eighty-six dollars. Co

“Sir, you gave me too much. I owe you change,” the pimply face cashier calls. When Co

“Can I have your address so I can pay you back?” she asked when he slammed the trunk closed.

“No,” he says. “No need to repay me. I’ve had a lot of kindness thrown my way lately. It was about time I paid it forward.”