Page 124 of Here and Now
“I just really want her to like me.”
I take her hand in mine. “She will. She’s grumpy only to me and Eloise. It’s our penance for making her suffer.”
Penelope squeezes and nods. “Okay. I’ll relax.”
She won’t, but at least she is saying it.
“Is Ethan going to be there?” Kai asks.
“He is. Eloise, Doug, Ethan, and Cora are all coming to dinner.”
Because I basically threatened I’d break Doug’s other leg if he didn’t get his family there.
Gran is amazing. I love her with my whole heart, but she’s old and crotchety. We need buffers.
“Cool!” Kai says and then stares back out the window.
We make the turn onto Gran’s driveway and go past the large rock that I climbed all the time. “I would stand on that rock and pretend I was a pirate, looking out across the ocean. Other times it was an explorer who found the town.”
Her eyes soften. “That’s so cute.”
“Cute or ... adventurous and imaginative?”
“Cute.”
I tried. I park and get out of the truck to open her and Kai’s door. He’s jumping down before the door is fully open, and then Penny gets out.
She looks at the house that I grew up in. It’s the same in some ways as the day she bought it. It’s two stories with white siding and blue shutters. She’s painted those a few times, but the blue was the last color she changed it to before my mother died. The back iswooded, and there’s a small clearing on the right where Eloise and I would play.
The porch is small but has two rocking chairs in which I spent many nights beside her as she knit.
“This house is adorable,” Penelope says.
“It’s home.”
“She’s close to the falls, right?”
I nod. “Yes, the falls are about a five-minute walk that way.” I point past the trees.
Last week I finally broke down and told her the legend of the falls. I dragged it out as long as I could because it was fun, and I also wanted us to be public, so it was just a way to push her into it a little bit.
Not that I think it’s even a small reason as to why she finally agreed to date.
We get to the front porch, and I lace my fingers with hers and open the door. “Gran? We’re here.”
Ethan comes darting out of the living room before we can even step foot through the threshold. “Kai! You’re here! Come on, I have to show you this!”
Kai looks up at Penny, and she shakes her head. “But, Mom.”
“You two can wait a second and say hello.”
“Oh, you’re here!” Gran exclaims and comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the dish towel. “Hello, Penelope. Welcome to my home. And this must be Kai.”
Penelope steps toward her, releasing my hand. “Thank you for having us. Eloise and Miles have told me so much about you.”
She eyes me speculatively. “All good things, I hope?”
I grin and kiss her cheek. “There are only good things.”
