Page 35 of Christmas On Anchor Island

Chapter Nine

Mia waiteduntil Olaf’s truck pulled away before walking over to Grandma’s. She had no idea what to expect. Would she be willing to listen, or would she refuse to talk at all? They’d never had a disagreement like this before. Without knocking, Mia opened the door and peeked inside. The rocker recliner was empty, which meant Grandma was most likely sitting at the kitchen table playing solitaire.

As she closed the door and crossed the living room, the snap of cards said her guess was right.

“Hi,” Mia said, stepping into the bright kitchen.

Grandma didn’t look up or acknowledge the greeting.

“Are you winning?”

Without a word, the older woman ended the game, gathered the cards, then set them aside. “It’s late, Mia.”

The clock said otherwise. “It isn’t even seven o’clock.”

“It’s been a long day.”

Yes, it had, but Mia had been putting this conversation off for far too long already. “Grandma, we need to talk.” She didn’t respond, but she didn’t leave the room either so Mia plowed ahead. “I’m sorry that you had to find out that way, and I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you the truth about me sooner.”

Eyes on the cards, she said, “Why didn’t you?”

“Because I knew you wouldn’t approve.”

She finally looked up. “I would never disapprove of you.”

“Grandma, you’ve made your feelings about homosexuality very clear.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

Mia crossed the room and leaned her hands on the table. “That has everything to do with this. You heard what I said today. I’m gay, Grandma. I like women. You don’t agree with that kind of lifestyle.”

“I don’t care about a lifestyle. I care about you. How could you keep something like this from me?”

“I thought you’d be disappointed. That you’d see me differently. Defective somehow.” As the words crossed her lips, Mia was forced to admit her real fear. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want me in your life anymore.”

“Oh, Mia.” Grandma rose from her chair and rounded the table to cup her granddaughter’s face in her hands. “I would never do that. I love you, no matter what you are or who you love. I can’t pretend I understand it, but all I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy.”

“Is that why you lied to Jeremy?”

She straightened and plopped her hands on her hips. “I didn’t lie.”

“You said I liked him but that I was too shy to say so.”

“I thought that was true,” she defended. “You never dated anyone so I figured you needed some help.”

That didn’t answer the question. “It’s obvious now why I didn’t date, but what gave you the impression I liked Jeremy?”

“You always talk to him.”

“I talk to him because he follows me around, and he follows me around because of what you told him.” This was getting them nowhere. “Forget about Jeremy. I came here tonight to say I’m sorry and to tell you the whole truth.”

Hand on her chest, she said, “There’s more?”

Mia rose and escorted Nota back to her seat. “There is. This morning I said I want to move off the island to see what’s out there.” She returned to her own seat. “That isn’t the only reason. There is someone I like. Someone I want to be with.”

“A woman?”

“Yes.” Though in that moment Mia had no idea if Henri would forgive her for being a jerk earlier, but her own feelings hadn’t changed. “It’s Henri.”

---