Bitter Sweets

as she twirled around the room, showing the suit from all its best angles. “I thought it was high time.”

    Savannah began to laugh as she ran to her grandmother and grabbed her around the waist. “Just look at you! You look like Esther Williams!”

    “That’s what I thought when I tried it on at Wal-Mart today. I just had to have it. After all, I can’t go wading in the big Pacific Ocean in one of my caftans or nightgowns.”

    “You’re absolutely right. There’s a wonderful little lagoon over by the marina. I’ll have to take you there as soon as I get a chance.”

    Tammy walked into the living room, just in time to hear Savannah’s last words.

    “Don’t wait until you ‘get a chance,’ Savannah,” she said quietly, “or you’ll never do it.”

    “Tammy, I can’t. You know what’s going on around here, and--”

    “Yes, I do. And I know that you aren’t the only one working on this case. You have Ryan and John running their buns off for you, Dirk is busting his, and I’m doing everything I possibly can every waking moment.”

    She nodded toward Granny and smiled a sweet, knowing smile that was wise beyond her years. “You can take two hours, Savannah. Even the president could take two hours under these circumstances.”

    Savannah thought of Lisa, of Earl...and, of course, of Christy.

    Then she looked at her grandmother, so eager, a child eighty-three years young, who had never set foot in the Pacific Ocean, who, until today, had never worn a bathing suit.

    “The temperature in that lagoon is really lovely this time of day, Gran,” she said. “But you’ll have to wear a robe or something as a coverup on the way there and back. That red suit is just too-o-o-o risqu'e for public!”

    “Oh, you’re right! I’ll go get one.” Granny Reid giggled as she hurried up the stairs. In record time she reappeared with her Victoria’s Secret’s terry-lined, satin robe over her arm.

    Savannah barely had time to grab her own gear.

    “I’ve made a very important decision, Savannah,” her told her as they walked to the car, arm in arm.

    “And what is that, Gran?”

    “I’ve made up my mind that I’m going to do something outrageous every year for the rest of my life. Last year I got my earlobes pierced... both of them. This year it’s the bathing suit and wading in the Pacific Ocean.” She lifted her chin a few notches. “And next year...oh, hell... there’s no tellin’ what I might do!”

    Savannah laughed and made a decision of her own: With every passing year of her own life, to become more like her grandmother.

    Lying on her back on the sun-warmed sand, Savannah allowed herself to enjoy the rare delight of doing absolutely nothing for a moment. The healing heat penetrated the stiff muscles of her shoulders and down her spine, loosening the knots, easing the tension. At least a little.

    A few feet away, Gran was playing tag with the waves and some children who had recognized a kindred spirit and had lingered to wonder at the joy she radiated.

    “How old are you?” asked the little boy. “Are you older than my mom?”

    “I’ll betcha I’m older than your mom’s mom,” she replied.

    “How come you have so many wrinkles on your face ?” his sister inquired.

    “Those are from laughing so much,” was the ready answer.

    The girl considered her words, but still looked puzzled. “You laugh on your neck?”

    Savannah winced, but she heard her grandmother roar, far too highly evolved a soul to be hampered by mere vanity. Humor was, and always had been, far more important to Granny Reid.

    “Oh, my Lordy, Savannah, did you hear that?” She plopped down onto the beach towel beside her and wriggled her toes into the sand. “Have you ever heard anything so funny in all your days?”

    “Children do have a way of putting things.”

    “Yes, they’re wonderful. They’re just the way the good Lord made them: pure and sweet and honest as the day’s long...the way we all were before the world messed us up.”

    Savannah rolled over toward her and shaded her eyes with one hand so that she could clearly see her grandmother’s face. “Gran,” she said thoughtfully, “can you always tell, ahead of time, if a person is bad or not?”

    Granny stretched out on her side, facing Savannah, and contemplated her answer carefully before speaking. “No, I can’t say as I can. Because I don’t really believe there’s any such thing as a bad person.”

    “But how