Page 13 of Writing On The Wall

“Besides, if that box ever shows up, it’ll belong toyou,” she whispers.

“Oh…wow. Thank you, Gran,” I choke out, more relieved to hear her mind isn’t stuck in the past than anything. Although some of her behavior is still concerning, it would be a much bigger problem if she were jumping around in time in her head.

“Lovely flowers.” I tip my head to the vase.

“Oh, aren’t they just stunning? Can you believe they grow across the road? I pick one every time I go for a stroll. Before you know it, I’ve got a bouquet.”

I nod slowly as I stare at the vase. She’s crafty, I’ll give her that. Surely she knows what she’s doing. At least, I hope she’s intentionally being mischievous.

Part of me worries Gran may be blissfully unaware of the feud she’s created between her and the feisty pair of green thumbs across the road.

“Nowyousit down, and I’ll get us a little treat.”

She pats me softly on the shoulder, and I return a warm smile. “Thanks, Gran.”

My head falls back as her pastel blue loveseat pulls me in. I close my eyes for a second before the vibrating in my pocket has me reaching for my phone.

A message pops up with two photos of my face squished against Toby’s, followed by a text that has me giggling.

Toby:

#couplegoals

My fingers pinch the screen, zooming in to make sure it doesn’t look like we’re in a classroom.Then I flinch and drop the phone at the high pitched shriek from behind me.

“You have a boyfriend? Ivy June! Let me see that handsome fella!”

My grandmother hastily sets down a tray of triangle-cut sandwiches to snatch the phone from my lap and scrutinize the photos.

“He’s actually?—”

“I’m so happy for you!” she interrupts me to declare, her glistening eyes blinking down at me. My hand fidgets with my shirt collar as I stand and brace myself to clear up this misunderstanding.

“Oh, this is so wonderful,” she continues to gush at the photos. “I think you’re finally ready for the house.”

Say what, now?

“Gran, I can’t take your cottage. You’ve got tenants, remember?”

“And they’ve finally moved out, with perfect timing! Oh, sweetheart, I’m so delighted,” she says with a hand over her heart. “Please tell me you’ll accept the house? You can get it ready now for when you and your young man get serious.” There’s so much joy in her eyes, saying no to her offer feels like denying a child their favorite candy.

“Oh…um…well…he’s?—”

“That little cottage is everything to me, and I wouldn’t trust anyone else but you to restore it. My life is in those walls. It should go to someone who cares about it as much as I do. I want you to have it, Ivy, so you can make new memories there.”

This situation is escalating pretty quickly. So why am I not objecting?

“You’re giving me a house,” I say, my eyes moving around the room as I process this gift.

She claps her palms together. “It’ll need some TLC, now. I’m afraid my last tenants got creative in their liberties. But I’ve already got money set aside for renovations. Oh, my great-grandbabies will grow up in this house!” she mimes a squeal, then fans her face, puffing air out of her mouth.

I should interject, right? Correct this little misunderstanding?

On the other hand, her state of mindcouldstill be fragile…and she seems so happy.

“It won’t be too much will it? Taking all this on?”

I force an awkward smile. “No, um, of course not. Thank you, Gran.”

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