Grandma turned to me, fuming. “This is the second time in a row she’s won.”
Surprised to see Grandma so angry, I tried to defuse the situation. “She’s lucky I guess?”
Shaking her head, Grandma’s expression was one of fury. “No. It’s fixed.”
Time moved slowly as Grandma reached into her purse and pulled out . . .
The gun.
The giant revolver she had given to me before we came here.
But we had left it at home in that cardboard box.
When did Grandma put it in her purse?
And what in the heck was she about to do with it?
Grandma aimed the gun at Clarise.
At Clarise!
The gun!
The crowd audibly gasped at once.
“I’ll teach you to cheat!” Grandma yelled as she stood on top of the picnic table.
Blam!
Right in the heart! Clarise went down to a chorus of screams.
“Grandma!”
All eyes turned toward me.
I stood about a foot away from our table, as apparently, I had jumped out of my seat.
Grandma sat at her spot, quietly, no gun, no anger, just utter confusion as to why I had suddenly jumped off the bench and screamed her name in front of a crowd of strangers.
Oops.
Guess I did fall asleep.
“Sorry,” I apologized to everyone and no one in particular.
Quietly, I smooshed back onto the bench next to Grandma, trying not to appear too humiliated, but yeah, pretty embarrassed.
Grandma chuckled as she glanced at me. “Sleepwalking?”
“I may have dozed off.” And the two of us were giggling. I didn’t dare tell her what I had been dreaming. She’d feel guilty for causing me nightmares by buying the gun. Besides, I still wasn’t sure how I felt about the gun yet anyway. The idea of even holding it scared me to bits.
We played a few more bingo cards after that, staying until the place closed down.
As we walked toward the exit with the others, I found myself feeling quite good about our decision to come. “Aside from embarrassing myself completely with falling asleep and scaring everyone, that was fun.”
Grandma had a slight pep to her step as she agreed. “I’m glad we decided to stay past the two cards.” Then her eyes lit up as she saw something ahead of her.
My curiosity got the best of me. “What’s that look about?”
Grandma nodded toward the crowd ahead of us. “You see that guy up there? The one with the flat cap?”
After a moment of inspection, I caught sight of the man she referred to. He was handsome for a guy in his . . . seventies? Eighties? I couldn’t really tell. But he carried himself with an air of confidence and charm as he walked with the crowd toward the exit.
“Yeah? What about him?” I had my suspicions on where this conversation was headed.
“His name is Buster, and I met him at the grocery store the other day, but I was too scared to ask for his number. We have a lot of mutual friends, who all tell me he’s amazing. They’ve been trying to set us up for over a year now. It was a total fluke we finally met in the produce section.”
The way Grandma stared at the back of his head surprised me, so smitten, so happy, so excited.
“Grandma! Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve been your wingman. Should we go up to him?” If I couldn’t be brave with Josh, I wasn’t about to let my grandmother follow in my footsteps.
Grandma appeared shy and a bit frightened. (I knew that feeling well.) “I don’t know. Should we? I keep telling you the two of us we need to get out more, but I’m a total hypocrite.”
Then it happened.
Buster turned his head as if he had felt our eyes staring at his back, and the most wonderful thing happened.
His face positively beamed when he saw my grandmother.
How could they have just met in a grocery store and look at each other like they were already in love? Anyone could see it. Their eyes sparkled when they made eye contact.
Buster slowed down until we caught up with him. And though we were surrounded by people, it felt like they were the only two in the room. She didn’t need me as a wingman. This seemed to be written in the stars.
“Hi, Anna.” This confident man was shy in Grandma’s presence. “How have you been?” He was too cute.
I hoped I was hiding my oh-my-god-this-is-so-adorable-I-can’t-stand-it face well. One thing I knew for sure, Anna Mayberry was definitely my grandmother; her shyness was as painful to watch as mine was to experience.
“Not bad in two days.”
Buster relaxed when Grandma spoke, and he began to walk with us. “Has it only been two days? I guess I’ve been thinking of you a lot. And thinking I should have asked for your number?” He phrased it as a question. (Which was so freaking adorable!)
“I would have loved that,” Grandma responded. (Go Grams!)
Buster smiled happily, and I seriously didn’t think I could take any more of this adorableness. In fact, I slowed down, unsure if I should leave them alone. At this point, me being a third wheel was an understatement.
Grandma noticed immediately though and, as a parental unit should, pulled me up to her side. “This is my granddaughter, Jeraline.”
I had to swoon a little, as Buster’s smile was infectious.
He held out his hand for me to shake. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Buster.” I shook his hand, then he suddenly looked embarrassed. “But you know that. I’m an idiot.” He threw my grandmother another longing look. “I get that way when I’m nervous.” Awww.
I really needed to give them some space. “Well, don’t be. You two should exchange numbers. I’ll meet you outside, Grandma.”
“Did you two walk?” Buster asked.
“Yeah, but we don’t live far,” I said and regretted it as soon as it left my mouth. I’d be willing to bet he was going to offer us a ride, and I ruined it with my stupid politeness.
“Nonsense. I’ll give you a ride home.”
Phew.
Grandma looked at me with hope, apparently thinking I might refuse. She did hear me
