Page 17 of Pressure

“Yes, but just a quick coffee and croissant, please. I have an appointment away from the resort this morning.”

“Yes, Mr. Stafford.”

The warm croissant and hot coffee was brought to my table moments after I sat down. While I ate, I sent a text to the valet and asked them to have my car waiting. I knew Frank and Trudy were trying to get on the road by 8:00 a.m. so I quickly ate and then headed toward the valet.

As the glass doors slid open, my silver Cayenne GT came into view and was waiting for me. Once I stepped out into the brisk air, Luke made his way toward me.

“I turned on the steering wheel warmer and seat warmer for you, Mr. Stafford.”

“Thank you, Luke.”

As soon as I shut the door, I turned the seat warmer down a notch and made my way toward Frank and Trudy’s. It didn’t take me very long to drive to their place. When I pulled up alongside their SUV, Frank waved to me as he put a suitcase in the back and then closed the hatch.

“Ready to get on the road?” I asked as I shut my car door and walked toward Frank.

“We’re so eager to get home and check on Audrey and the baby. Trudy was almost ready to leave in the middle of the night.”

“Congratulations on the grandson, Frank.”

“Thank you, Joel. We really appreciate you coming over on such short notice.”

“It’s no trouble at all, Frank.”

“Come on in; I don’t think we have much for you to keep an eye on while we’re gone.”

“I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it until you return,” I replied as I followed him inside.

Trudy stood from the breakfast bar when Frank and I came inside.

“Look who I found loitering outside,” Frank teased as he gestured to me. Trudy swatted Frank on the shoulder when she walked by him on her way to me.

“Joel, thank you so much for coming over so early,” she said as we hugged. “Oh!” Trudy quickly pulled out of our embrace and then hurried to the kitchen counter to pick up her phone. “I have pictures if you’d like to see?”

“I’d love to see the new young man,” I eagerly replied. I stood beside Trudy and looked at the few dozen pictures that she’d already accumulated of her grandson. “He looks adorable.”

“He does.” Trudy beamed with happiness.

“What is his name?” I asked.

“Linus. Linus James.”

“Linus James,” I repeated. “Those are strong names.”

“We’re so excited to get home to see him,” Trudy reiterated.

“I can understand why. You guys should get on the road.”

A set of keys dangled from Frank’s finger. “Here’s the extra set of keys.”

“Perfect,” I said as he dropped the keys into the palm of my hand.

“Would you mind watering the house plant by the door on the deck? Oh, and putting out some hummingbird food each week?” Trudy asked and then flashed a smile. Trudy loved the hummingbirds.

“Of course, consider it done.” A piece of paper on the counter beside Trudy’s purse caught my eye, and she noticed me looking at it. “Is that your deck?” I asked and stepped forward to take a closer look.

Trudy smiled and handed it to me. It was a pencil sketch drawing of their back deck. Their Adirondack chairs where they sat each day were in the picture along with other items they had out there. The large tree with the hummingbird feeder was even in the picture, and the only item of color was a purple hummingbird fluttering nearby. It was an incredible drawing. I was surprised that either of them could draw this well, and that after all my years of knowing them, I hadn’t known.

“This is amazing!”