Chapter 18 Grandpa Lets the Cat Out of the Bag
The late afternoon sun filtered through the hospital room window as Case sat next to Grandpa Jack’s bed, swapping stories about racing. It was great to finally have a chance to talk to the older man. Case truly enjoyed hearing stories from the fans, and there was nothing he liked to chat about more than racecars.
Andrea had gone of with her mother to get some coffee. He thought she also intended to try and find that nurse from the day before. She hadn’t been at the nurses station when they came in earlier. He got the idea that, if the nurse didn’t get a selfie with Andrea soon, she might get really upset. He just hoped she didn’t do anything too rash. So far, none of the media seemed to know Andrea was home for Christmas. They definitely didn’t know that Case was there, too. While he wouldn’t mind being seen in pics with the beautiful actress, he didn’t want to upset her. And... he didn’t want to upset his ex-girlfriend Sarah over nothing either. It would be different if Andrea really liked him, then Sarah would just have to get over it.
“One of my favorite racing memories was when you beat Gordon Jones to the line at Talladega a couple years ago,” Jack was saying. He looked better today, not as pale, and his voice was stronger.
Case chuckled. “That’s one of my favorite memories, too. I just barely got to the finish line before Gordo.”
Jack was laughing so hard now, Case thought he might hurt himself. “Andrea had come back to visit that weekend, back from one of her movies, you know.... She was a sittin’ on my couch with me, just cheerin’ for you so loud. I thought she was gonna lose her voice!” He continued to laugh, but all Case could do was stare. “When you won, that girl jumped up and down like she was the winner.”
Case was confused. On the car ride to the hospital, Andrea had said that she was a fan of Gordon Jones. So why would she be cheering for Case to beat him? “Is that so?” he asked Jack, trying to sound nonchalant, as if it didn’t matter.
“Oh, yes. Andrea is quite a fan of yours. At least, she was last time we watched a race together. It’s been too long. I can’t wait for Daytona to get here in February. Boy, it sure would be nice if Andrea could go this year. We ain’t never been, even though I’ve always wanted to. Now, well, I’m afraid this old ticker of mine couldn’t handle it. But Andrea, she’d just love it.”
Case couldn’t help but smile. “Andrea is always welcome in my pit box any time she wants to watch a race.”
Jack shook his head slowly. “That would be somethin’ else. To watch the Daytona 500 from pit road. I’m tellin’ you, I’m so glad that you gave my Andy a ride here. It was fate, I think. She’s a fan of yours, and so am I. And now... here you are. Do you watch any of her movies?”
Scratching his head, Case thought about how best to tell Grandpa Jack the truth. “Yes, I’ve watched a lot of her movies. In fact, my sister was a fan first. She got me watching even before Andrea was such a big name, back when she made Wildflowers.”
“Goodness, she was just seventeen then.” Grandpa Jack had a fond smile on his face.
“I know. I was just starting out racing in the Xfinity series, and I’d come home for a few days. My sister took me to see the movie. Andrea wasn’t the star, but she was so good in it, I definitely remembered her the next time I saw her in a movie.”
“She’s always been such a good actress.” Jack was still smiling. “When my oldest daughter, Veronica, was her age, it was the same thing. She went out to make it big in Hollywood but never really got nowhere. I know Karen was sad to see Andrea go, but she landed that role so fast, she knew it was just meant to be.”
They heard voices at the door, and Case paused. Andrea and Karen both walked in with coffee. Andrea looked from Grandpa to Case and back again. “What have you two been up to?” she asked as she crossed to hand Case his coffee.
Had his expression given it away? “Nothin’, just talking about racing. Thanks for the coffee.”
Andrea still looked skeptical, like she didn’t believe him. Case had no idea how she could tell something had changed, but she seemed to know her grandfather had told him her secret—that she really did cheer for him. He didn’t bother to ask why she hadn’t been honest. Andrea was very guarded and seemed so concerned about Sarah. Case had a feeling, though, especially since he’d hugged her earlier, that guard was starting to come down.
He changed the subject. “Did you happen to find the nurse?”
“No.” Andrea was disappointed. “I looked for her. I should’ve gotten her name so I could ask.”
“Maybe we’ll see her on the way out.” Case sipped his coffee and smiled at her. She returned the gesture and sat down in a chair next to him. He loved having her so close. The scent of warm vanilla wafted through the air, and it wasn’t the coffee. It was the beautiful redhead at his side.
“Now, let’s get back to talkin’ about racing,” Grandpa Jack insisted. They all chuckled, and Case started another story, this one about Jack’s favorite racer before Case, Will Hanson. He loved to hear the old man laugh and was so glad he’d bumped into Andrea at the airport. Fate might’ve brought them together, but it was his driving that had gotten her here, and he never wanted to let her go.
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