Page 62 of It Started with a Kiss
I contorted my face and narrowed my eyes. ‘Actually no. Well only in passing. Cal keeps messaging me asking when we’re free to meet up but we’ve both been so busy.’
Hetty tilted her head and shook it. ‘Not too busy for me though?’
I leaned and took her hand briefly. ‘I’m never too busy for you Hetty.’
Her cheeks pinked and she whacked at my hand. ‘Och, away with you, you wee dafty.’ She turned her attention to my girl. ‘So, Star, tell me about yourself.’
She shrugged. ‘Well, there’s not much to tell, really.’
‘Oh, come now. I doubt that very much. I mean, for starters you’re an American lassie living thousands of miles from home. So, that alone tells me how brave you are.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that.’
Hetty’s alarmed gaze darted to mine, and I felt the need to explain. ‘Star is quite... how can I say it? Modest,to say the least. Although she’s the most talented photographer. In fact, you know the framed photos I loved so much?’
She rolled her eyes playfully. ‘Oh, aye. How could I forget?’
I gripped Star’s hand with an immense amount of pride. ‘Well, this is the photographer. S.A.M. aka, Star Mendoza.’
Hetty gasped and covered her heart. ‘Oh my goodness. Now there’s a strìc de dhuais if I ever heard of it.’
Star’s brow crumpled. I leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘It means a stroke of fate. It’s Gaelic.’
‘Mìorbhaileach,’ Hetty continued with a warm smile.
‘Yes, it iswonderful,Hetty. And if I didn’t believe in fate before, I certainly do now.’ I kept my gaze fixed on Star as I spoke the words, and her responding smile made my heart soar.
Tilting her head to one side, Hetty continued, ‘So, Star, tell me more.’
* * *
When we left the café, hand in hand, a sense of relief and calm came over me. Star had captured Hetty’s heart and vice versa. And just as I knew she would, Hetty instilled a sense of belonging and confidence in Star as only she could. There had been no words spoken on the matter, but it was evident in Star’s smile and in her body language.
Mission accomplished.
38
Star
After meeting Hetty I decided that I should return the favour. We stood outside my Grandma Aggie’s little house on the outskirts of the city. Fin looked calm and collected which annoyed me because there was a war going on in my insides.
‘Star my beautiful girl. I wasn’t expecting to see you today. Is everything okay?’ my grandma asked as she hugged me. She stepped aside and gestured for us to enter. As we sat on the flowery couch in the living room Grandma stayed in the doorway and eyed Fin with suspicion. ‘And who is this handsome young man?’
‘Grandma, I’d like you to meet Fin… Fin Hunter, he’s my… erm…’ I glanced at Fin almost for permission even though he had introduced me as his girlfriend when we met Hetty. He nodded and smiled. ‘Boyfriend.’
My grandma gasped and placed a hand on each of her cheeks. ‘Well that’s just lovely. Hello Fin Hunter.’
Fin stood again and awkwardly stepped closer to my grandma to shake her hand but she pulled him down to her four feet ten level and planted a kiss on his cheek. ‘You may call me Aggie.’
Fin’s cheeks flushed red and he grinned. ‘Lovely to meet you Aggie. I can see where Star gets her beautiful smile from.’
My grandma glanced over at me. ‘Oh he’s a charmer this one. I think we’ll keep him.’ And with that she disappeared off to make tea.
‘She’s great,’ Fin said with sincerity.
I nodded. ‘I think so too. And the fact she let you call her Aggie… well, I’d say you more than meet with approval.’
He beamed and nodded his head. ‘Initial family introductions… tick.’ He made a tick in the air and relaxed into his seat and I almost burst with happiness.
