Page 100 of An Engagement for Erica

“It’s nice to meet you,” Michael said, his eyes dropping to the ring and then smirking a bit.

Nothing any of them could do about it just now.

“You too,” she said. “I’m glad to hear that TC has someone taking care of him as well as you are.”

“Thank you,” Michael said. “He’s in the living room. He didn’t want visitors in his room.”

Tucker and Erica walked with Michael toward the back of the house. His grandfather was in sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt.

He still laughed when he saw it. His grandfather rarely wore jeans. Casual to TC Nelay was cotton trousers and a button-down shirt, maybe still a tie.

“Hi, Grandpa,” he said.

“It’s about time you got here,” his grandfather said. “I was starting to wonder if you made Erica up or something when I saw her in the hospital, but I knew that wasn’t the case. Someone that pretty isn’t a dream.”

He smiled. “No, Grandpa. She’s real as can be.”

“How are you feeling?” she asked. “You’re looking great.”

“Thank you,” his grandfather said. “Not as good as you’re looking.”

Erica smiled and before he knew it, his grandfather was asking questions about their relationship. When it started, how she was proposed to. Things he hadn’t expected to happen.

They told the truth as much as they could but kept as many dates out of it.

He felt it was about as smooth as it could go.

“TC,” Michael said, coming in. “Are you ready for some lunch? I’ll get it started.”

Tucker looked at his watch and realized they were there for two hours. His grandfather hadn’t shown any signs of being tired and was very aware of everything.

He was thrilled more than annoyed over the personal questions.

“Why don’t you eat, Grandpa,” he said. “Conserve your strength, as I know you’ve got your therapy this afternoon.”

“I’ve got it multiple times a day,” his grandfather said. “It’s annoying. The only good part is the pretty therapists, but I knowI can’t say it to them. Or maybe I can. They might just think I’m a dirty old man.”

He laughed. “You’ve never been that,” he said.

“Which is why I reserve those comments for Michael when everyone is gone.”

“But you said them just now,” Erica said, smiling. “And I think it’s nice.”

“I thank them for their hard work,” his grandfather said. “And Michael makes sure we’ve got lots of food and drink here for them. I’m trying to figure out some gifts for them. One of them is about your age. What kind of a thank you gift do you think is appropriate, Erica?”

“That’s very sweet of you to think of them that way. Do you talk to them at all to find out anything they like or places they enjoy eating? Food is always a great gift. Chocolate is sometimes even better.”

“My late wife, she loved chocolate,” his grandfather said.

Tucker smiled over the tender look in his grandfather’s eyes. His grandfather was a lot sharper today than normal.

“You’ve said that before,” he said. “And I remember.”

“I’ll have Michael order a bunch of boxes of gourmet chocolates. It’d be nice to have them in the house to hand out. Not sure how much longer they will be here.”

He lifted his eyebrow. “A while, Grandpa. You know that.”

“Yeah,” his grandfather said, frowning. “But I’m stronger. I told Michael I only need him.”

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