“Oh, don’t you worry, this tech support’s open 24/7.” She pulled out her phone and called Levi.
He answered with “You okay?”
Her heart swelled against her rib cage. “I am. I’m actually calling for tech support. You available?”
“Always.”
She disconnected. “He’ll be right here.”
The doorbell rang and her grandpa’s brows went up, but he headed to the door. “Are you her fellow?” he asked Levi.
Levi looked past him to Jane, and she felt him taking visual inventory. His gaze slowed on her face and she knew he could see the trace of tears.
“Right now I’m tech support,” he said to her grandpa.
“And later?”
“Whatever she needs me to be.”
Jane felt her heart warm for Levi in a whole new way as her grandpa let Levi in.
Chapter 18
Levi kept his gaze on Jane, wanting a sign from her that she was okay. She gave him a small smile, looking emotional but more relaxed than she’d been in the car.
“Grandpa,” she said, “this is Levi Cutler. Levi, this is my grandpa, Lloyd Parks.”
Her grandpa was the same height as Jane, and round and solid as a tree trunk. He wore round spectacles, but was looking over the top of them at Levi. He had a wild mane of white hair that seemed to defy gravity—except for the bald spot at the top—and a beard that ensured he could pass for Santa if he wanted. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Parks,” he said and shook the man’s hand.
“Call me Lloyd,” her grandpa said. “In fact, if you can fix my TV, you can call me whatever you want.”
“I’ll do my best.” Levi put a hand on Jane’s shoulder, running it lightly down her arm to squeeze her fingers.
She smiled and squeezed back. She was okay, at least for now.
Good enough for him.
She brought him over to the TV and handed him the remote. “Hope this is in your realm of expertise.” Then she turned to her grandpa. “Did you have dinner?”
“Yes, and the hot cocoa was excellent.”
“Grandpa, when someone has a heart attack, that someone should change his entire way of living, including how he eats.”
Her grandpa smiled. “You’ve got your grandma’s bossiness.”
She pointed at him. “Don’t try to distract me with sentiment, because trust me, my heart’s hard as stone. Did you really not eat yet?”
“I had some cookies.”
“Grandpa.”
“I need them.”
“You don’t need them.”
“Kuchi zamishi,” Levi said.
Lloyd laughed in delight and pointed at him. “Exactly! See, he gets it!”
Jane looked at Levi, clearly waiting for the translation.
“Kuchi zamishi is a Japanese saying. It’s the act of eating because your mouth is lonely,” Levi said.
“Hence the cookies,” Lloyd explained to Jane.
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re saying you eat bad because you’re lonely?”
“Maybe?”
“I’d remind you of whose fault that is,” she said. “But I don’t think you need the reminder. You’re going to start taking better care of yourself.”