Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“Did you ever want that? To have a significant other?”
“I wanted it very much with your grandfather. It broke my heart when he died and your mother was so young. Life became all about working to keep a roof over our heads.” She falls silent for a time. “I don’t think I ever really trusted the universe enough to try again. And I’ve always been happy enough on my own.”
We’re sitting on the front porch again with our coffees the next morning. Grandma is hiding her eyes behind a pair of sunglasses. She went out shortly after Nash’s announcement yesterday afternoon and didn’t return home until the early hours. I’m not saying she went on a bender, however, the evidence suggests as much. It would seem she has more in common with the country music rock’n’roll lifestyle than she’d like to admit. She was, after all, a part of the fast-paced world that she’s been warning me about for a decade or so.
“What do you think made you and Grandpa such a good match?” I ask.
“We were both too stubborn to give up. That didn’t hurt. First we figured out how to fight. Then we worked out what was worth fighting for and when one of us needed to give.” She stares contemplatively out at the garden. “He used to make me laugh so hard, and he often had such fascinating insights into things. And even just holding his hand made the world seem somehow better.”
“I’m glad you had that. And I’m sorry he was taken from you.”
Grandma takes a deep breath. “Me too, dear.”
“It would be hard to replace.”
“There’s no replacing your grandfather,” she says. “So many years have passed. I do get lonely now and then.”
“You’ve never been tempted to try a dating app?”
“Can you imagine?” She laughs.
“Some people have more than one great love in their life. Or it might just be about companionship.”
She makes a dismissive noise. “Are you on a dating app?”
“Not right now.”
“Give yourself time,” she says. “I thought I might’ve met someone once. But it wasn’t to be.”
“You never told me this.”
She gives me a quick smile. “There’s a lot of things I haven’t told you. Stick around and you’ll no doubt hear everything eventually.”
“I’d like that.”
“So would I.”
I cross my legs and get comfortable. This sort of conversation with trust and openness has been missing from my life for a while now. It feels good to be here with Grandma. “What was this person like…the one who was a maybe?”
“Your grandfather worked for an architectural firm and liked wearing suits. He was nothing like this other man.”
“Was he nice to you?”
There’s no answer for a moment. Then she says, “He wasn’t always nice. But he was always kind. I think that’s more important, don’t you?”
“Yeah. You met him while you were working for Nash?”
Grandma just frowns. Guess I shouldn’t have said his name. She still hasn’t recovered from his news.
The man himself is out at his morning meditation or jogging group or whatever. She turns her head toward the larger house next door. There’s a Japanese maple, a graceful birch, and other established trees on the property blocking much of the view of the building. The privacy of the place makes it a smart choice for him.
We can, however, see open windows over there and a van parked in the driveway. Guess it’s the original owners clearing out their things ahead of selling the place.
“I wasn’t lying when I said I loved him,” she says. Nash is obviously on both our minds. “After ten years of working for him and cleaning up his messes, however, I was ready for a nice long break. But if he’s bought a house here then his various friends are bound to visit also.”
“Grandma, is this man you’re talking about one of his friends? Is that why him buying next door freaked you out so badly?”
“What do you young people say? It’s complicated?” She sighs. “Another part of me wants to keep Nash close so I can keep an eye on him. Make sure he’s eating and sleeping properly. Once when I was on vacation, he existed on nothing but carrot cake for a week.”
“I guess it has a vegetable and walnuts in it.”
“So he claimed,” she says. “I’m probably worrying about nothing. He won’t be able to stay away from the bright lights forever. The Bend will bore him eventually. It’s only a matter of time.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. He’s been constantly on the move for as long as I’ve known him. It’s the only way he knows how to live.”
I don’t mean to frown. There is unfortunately one on my face.
And Grandma frowns back at me. “You haven’t gotten attached to him, have you? As I’ve said several times before, it wouldn’t be wise.”
“We’re just friends.”