“No offense, kid,” he says, smiling. “Living with you would drive us both insane. Besides, the drive every day is exhausting and I’m just a passenger. Not to mention all my friends are there. I don’t need your permission, I just…”
Guilt floods me. I will not let my grandfather beg for anything. “I will take care of it. Do you want me to speak to the management, or do you want to handle the paperwork? I will want to check it out to make sure it’s safe for you. I would do that no matter who’s paying.”
“I’d like us to go over the paperwork together. Thanks, kid.”
My grandfather was a proud man, so I felt really honored that he was comfortable to ask this of me. And I’m so pleased I can do it for him. “So, tell me, what’s the attraction at the retirement village? Is she pretty?”
“You’ll mind your manners.” His tone is serious, but he cannot hide the smile that reaches his eyes.
I’m fortunate to have the relationship I do with him. The generation gap is not really a thing, and he’s the man I respect most in the world.
My parents were killed in a tsunami when I was twelve, while on holiday in Japan. My aunt and uncle died along with my parents as well. My grandfather lost both his sons in one of the worst natural disasters we’ve ever seen. Since then, it has been just the five of us.
My mom was a foster kid who never knew her parents. My dad’s mother died when he was still a kid and as far as I know my grandfather hasn’t dated since then. So, if he wants to move across town for a woman, who am I to stop him.
I help him clear the table and load the dishwasher. I put in a load of laundry and take out the trash. For the most part, my grandfather still cleans the apartment by himself. I do have someone coming in to clean once a month but even that was a struggle. His exact words were I don’t need someone going through my unmentionables.
I will check out what services the retirement village has and whatever they don’t have, I’ll make sure he gets.
By the time I’ve checked to see that he has enough groceries and toiletries, it’s nearly evening. With nothing else to do I started folding a load of laundry that was piled neatly in the empty bedroom.
“Does the fact that your brother and cousins are not here have anything to do with you delaying going to the York’s?” The old man is standing in the middle of the doorway, his arms folded over his chest. The fact that I am now a good few inches taller than him doesn’t make him any less intimidating than when I was a kid.
“Grandpa, you said they were all working.” I wasn’t about to admit that he might be right. “And I’m not delaying leaving. I was waiting for you to get ready.”
“I’m ready, let’s go.” He turns around and walks towards the front door. I drop the laundry and follow him. “And whatever’s going on between you kids, you need to fix it.”
“What makes you think I did something wrong?”
“Just fix it.”
The drive to the York’s doesn’t take long. Denver’s Jeep is parked in the driveway. Time to face the music. Just as I am about to knock my grandfather opens the door. He rolls his eyes at me. “They’re like family. I don’t stand on ceremony for family.”
The second most heavenly smell assaults my senses. Mr. York outdid himself again. Angela’s mother was a great cook, but her dad was a baker. Their home always smells sweet, like chocolate chip cookies. Today there was caramel in the mix and maybe even some almonds.
“Arthur, you made it.” Mrs. York steps up to us and hugs my grandfather as if she didn’t see him just a week ago. She turns to me and smiles before hugging me. “Justin, it’s so lovely to see you. I’m so glad you could come with your grandfather.”
Mr. York shakes my hand and Denver glares at me from across the room. Bridget, the youngest York, walks into the living room. “Justin!” She runs to me and grips me in a tight hug. She raises a brow at me. “I’m surprised to see you, especially since—”
“Hi Justin.” Her voice disarms me. I let go of Bridget and take a good look at my wife. My wife. Why does that sound so fucking right? And what the fuck was she doing here a week early.
“Angel, you’re here?”
I haven’t called her Angel in front of anyone else before. That was just for us. But I cannot be bothered to retract it.
I get the distinct impression they are all watching us, but I don’t see anyone else but her.
“Yeah, I got a call about a job last night. I need to start tomorrow. I flew out earlier this morning.”
I swallow hard. So, she had a change of plans and I was the last person to know. I’m not prepared for how much that stings.
“And no one told me.” I say loud enough for both her and Bridget to hear. “Got it.”
Angela
I knew I would run into Justin sooner or later. It wasn’t until my mom mentioned that he would bring his grandfather over for dessert that I realized it would be today. I had a few hours to prepare to see him and I was prepared for him to be sexy and adorable as he pandered to his grandfather. I was prepared to drool over the way that T-shirt fit over his muscled chest, and the way his jeans hung on his hips. What wasn’t I prepared for? The hurt in his eyes when he realized I was home and didn’t let him know.
Just then, the door flies open. Andi walks in and immediately hugs her cousin. “I’m so glad you’re home.
