Page 32 of Something Old

Gwen turned back, looking bewildered as Madeline appeared at her side with the vintage picnic tin. “Oh, you must’ve misunderstood. I . . . I can’t buy that,” she stuttered.

Madeline slid the cute set into the bag and pushed it into Gwen’s hand. “It’s a gift, but”—her gaze slid meaningfully around the store—“I couldn’t very well announce that to the world.”

“That’s very kind, but I can’t accept.”

“You can, and you will. It’s so hard when you’re raising a young family to justify spending money on frivolous things.”

“But—”

“No buts. You’d be doing me a favor, actually.”

“Uh-huh.”

“No, seriously.”

“And what’s that?”

“It’s a great way to force you to bring your grandkids here for a picnic in the yard, no excuses.”

Gwen raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah, that would be a big favor on my part. For sure.”

“So, you accept? Good.”

“No. I love it, but it’s too much.”

Madeline shook her head. “It’s really not, and it would make me happy to imagine you guys using it.” She dropped her voice even lower. “Please take it.”

“Okay, okay,” Gwen finally acquiesced, smiling. “Thank you—and I accept your invitation to picnic in your yard, too. Since all I do is look after kids, I have nothing better to do anyway.”

Madeline laughed at the gibe directed at Monika’s comment, relieved that the tiny awkwardness of the impromptu gift was smoothed away.

“But just so you know, once we’re all here tearing up your yard, it will be too late to rescind the offer.”

Madeline winked. “I’ve been warned.”

“Yes,” Gwen said with a grin that knocked twenty years off her.

“Okay, but now, before you go, I do have to point out one slightly uncomfortable thing.”

A flicker of concern creased Gwen’s face. “Oh, really? What?”

“We both owe Cruella a good turn. If not for her, we might never have started really talking.”

Gwen was laughing as she left.

Grant came over to Madeline the moment the door shut behind Gwen. “I see you’re busy, and I won’t keep you. I just wanted to see if you want to do dinner.”

“Yes, please!”

Grant smiled but then shot a curious look toward the door. “What was that all about?”

“What was what all about?”

“Did you give Gwen that picnic box thingamajig for free?”

“Yes,” Madeline said happily. She was tickled just thinking about how excited the kids would be when they saw it. There was something about miniature things, matching sets, and nestling objects that children seemed universally intrigued and delighted by.

Grant’s eyebrows rose. “That’s kind of a backward way to try and build a business, isn’t it?”