Page 30 of Brutal Mate

Her grandmother didn't look entirely convinced, but she didn't pressure her for the truth as she sat down opposite and pushed a plate of cookies towards her. “Have as many as you'd like. You look famished.”

Miley took a couple of the shortbreads, her favorites, and scarfed them down. She was half-starved. She had barely eaten save for some beef jerky and fruit she had packed into her small bag.

“I was on the road longer than I expected,” she admitted, blushing when she realized her grandma was watching her with a perplexed expression.

“What are you doing all the way up here?” her grandma asked. “This is practically the middle of nowhere.”

Miley laughed. Nightstar was the middle of nowhere. Compared to there, this place was filled with people. She had seen at least ten other farms on the way.

“I'm just passing through and Daddy gave me your address, I hope you don't mind,” Miley said, hoping that would be enough.

“Of course I don't!” her grandma reached over and laid a wrinkled hand on hers. “I've been wanting to meet you and your mama for so damn long.”

There she was, cursing again. Not at all the woman her son had made her out to be.

“Maybe you ought to call her and let her know you got here safe?” Grandma suggested, gesturing to the old-fashioned corded phone hanging from the wall. It was like something out of a museum. In fact, all she had seen of the farmhouse so far was. It was almost like she had stepped into a fairytale book.

The country style of the place was all pink and yellow with white lace frills. The grapevine patterns on some of the kitchen tiles were fascinating. And then there was the hen tea cozy on what Miley could only imagine was an old stove kettle.

“I…umm, I called when I got to the gate,” Miley said, gesturing out the window to the yard. Quickly, trying to change the subject, she added, “You have a lovely home.”

Grandma sighed heavily and Miley felt a twist in her gut.

"I'm afraid this place hasn't felt like home for a long time,” Grandma said, shaking her head. She looked down into her lemonade glass before she added, “Not since your daddy left and your grandpa passed.”

Bile rose in the back of Miley's throat. She could feel the loneliness coming off her grandma in waves. In an odd way, she felt as if she might be preying upon the woman's weakness, and yet she couldn’t stop from seizing the opportunity.

“Well, I was just passing through,” she said warily, “but maybe, well, maybe I could stay for a couple of days and help it feel like more of a home again.”

Glancing around, she noticed the layer of dust that sat on the things just out of reach. She suspected her grandma had foregone using the step ladder in the corner to do her dusting long ago.

“Won't your parents be looking to have you back?” Grandma asked, though her expression was hopeful.

Miley cringed, hoping her grandma wouldn't notice. “I can text and let them know. Besides, I didn't plan on heading back to Nightstar anytime soon, anyway. I figured at nineteen it was well past time to see more of the world.”

It was then that she yawned. She hadn't meant to, but she was so exhausted it was impossible not to.

“Oh, you poor thing!” her grandma squeezed her hand tightly. “You must be exhausted. Of course you can stay! Stay as long as you'd like.”

Relief washed over Miley like a bucket of warm water, and she smiled a real, ear-to-ear smile for what felt like the first time in her life.

“Thank you, Grandma,” she said, placing her free hand on top of her grandmother's. “I hope it won't be too much of an imposition.”

“Of course not! I've waited a long time to meet you, my sweet girl!” Grandma said, and she reached with her other hand to cup Miley's cheek. “Why don't you come with me, and I'll show you to the guest room. You can clean up and rest before supper. I made a huge pot of rabbit stew just yesterday.”

Miley's stomach growled at that, and she grabbed one more cookie and her lemonade before following her grandma through the house.

The rest of the place was just as one might have imagined an old farmhouse would look, cute and cozy if a little musty.

When her grandma opened up the bedroom door on the ground floor, Miley was surprised at the smell of fresh linen and lavender.

As if she sensed her surprise, Grandma shrugged and said, “You never know when you might expect guests. I like to keep the place ready just in case.”

Moses, who had followed them down the hall, grunted as if he wasn't best pleased by the latest guest to arrive at their door.

He started to grumble again until Grandma shooed him off and he disappeared back down the hall. Miley could just see him as he plopped himself back down on the rug beside the stove.

“Go ahead. Help yourself to the bed,” Grandma instructed, helping Miley off with her bag. “I'll come and wake you when supper is ready.”

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