Page 60 of What Started In Deception

She walked into the room off the main living space, noting the queen-size bed covered with a tan comforter, a side table close to that, the one dresser pushed against the wall, and the open closet door. Too curious to resist, she stepped closer, studying several pairs of slacks, collared button-downs, and ties on hangers and a navy-blue jacket that looked like the one she’d seen on numerous TV shows with FBI spelled out in bold yellow letters.

Ty stood in the doorway, watching her scrutinize his things.

“Do you wear a tie every day?”

He shook his head. “My dress code depends on the case I’m working on at the time. Sometimes, I can get away with everyday street clothes, and other times I can’t.”

She nodded, imagining that Ty looked great in a button-down and tie.

He glanced at his watch. “You told your grandma you’d be there at two?”

“I did.”

He stepped into the room, pulling off his holster and gun, securing them in a safe tucked beneath his bed. “K Street’s three blocks up, but we’re probably looking at a twenty-minute walk.”

She peeked in the clean and mostly empty bathroom, then turned to him. “I guess we should get going.”

“We can take the Jeep instead.”

She grinned as she nodded, liking the idea of riding in the vehicle that Ty actually owned. “Sure.”

Lydia stood next to Ty in the elevator at Gram-Gram’s temporary building, watching the numbers increase on the wall as they climbed to the fourth story. She sent him a small smile in the swank, subdued lighting as violin music played through hidden speakers somewhere in the ceiling.

“This place is really nice,” he said. “I think it’s supposed to be one of the best facilities in the country.”

She nodded, struggling to focus on their conversation instead of on how nervous she was becoming. Because it was nearly time to introduce Gram-Gram to Ty. “We wanted her to be comfortable and concentrate on healing, especially since we knew she would be here for a while.”

Ty nodded this time. “That makes sense.”

Moments later, the door opened to a bright hallway with pretty views of the park across the street and flowers arranged on tables outside the residents’ rooms.

“She’s in number seven,” Lydia said as she hurried that way, knocking before she chickened out.

“Come in,” Gram-Gram called.

She paused with her hand on the doorknob, holding Ty’s gaze as she took a deep breath.

“We’ve got this, Lyd.”

She nodded, even when she wasn’t so sure, but she opened the door anyway, smiling as she stepped into the spacious living room.

“Lydia,” Gram-Gram said as she stood with the aid of her cane.

Lydia hurried her way, absorbing the wash of love as she hugged one of the people she adored most in the world. “Gram-Gram.”

Gram-Gram held on just as tightly, smelling like jasmine. “Honey, I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Me, too.” She eased back, studying her grandmother dressed in khaki slacks and a pretty pale-blue blouse that accentuated her blue eyes, wearing her jewelry and lipstick, just like always. She’d taken the time to style her gray hair, which was no surprise. Gram-Gram was eighty-one but easily could have passed for seventy.

Gram-Gram focused on Ty, who still stood close to the door. “I see you’ve brought a friend.”

Lydia nodded, finding herself relieved that calling Ty a friend felt true. “Gram-Gram, this is Ty Corddry. Ty, I’d like to introduce you to my gram-gram, Marietta Monroe.”

Ty moved closer, shaking her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Monroe.”

“And you.” She looked at Lydia again. “Ty must be someone special in your life.”

Lydia nodded, looking at him. “How about we sit, Gram-Gram.” She helped her grandmother back to her chair, then sat on the small couch next to Ty.