“I missed you girl, more than you know. There’s not a lot for an old bird like me to do out here all alone,” she said, sounding very sad.
“Old, you? Never.” I laughed, Gran was ageless. Well at least her spirit and athleticism, her looks were pretty good considering all the years. “And you birdy, have tons of friends and clubs.” I accused. She opened her mouth, looking for something to say but found no words, she strode into the kitchen and threw the dish towel onto the counter, I smiled victoriously.
“All my friends are old now and have walkers and dentures. You, my sweets are fun and alive, not all gassy and falling asleep. Now wipe that cheeky smile off your face.” I just smiled more at her, Gran was too funny.
“Well, I’m sorry and I promise I’ll visit you more, I missed you a lot,” I told her and gave her another hug. Her weak and small arms hugged me back and then she pulled my face down an inch to her 5’2” height and she whispered in my ear.
“You better, I know where you live and even if I have to drag you down here, you’ll come. This bird’s got a lot of fight left in her,” she threatened and then jokingly smacked my butt. “Are you hungry, my sweet?” she asked, opening the fridge a second later. “I’ve got leftover pizza.”
“No, I’m good,” I told her and then sat down at her small kitchen table. She closed the fridge and sat across from me, that’s just one of the many things I loved about Gran. If you said no she stopped, she didn’t keep at it like most old people do, she let it be and moved on. Well when it came to food at least.
“So, what’s new and good in life. Fill me in on all the new jazz,” she said excitedly. Gran loved new, fashionable trends, and gossip, she liked to be kept up to date. I’d often bring her the books I was reading, or buy her magazines with all the new fashions and decor.
“School sucks as usual, dad left for London yesterday, or I guess this morning. Oh, and did I tell you I am now a legal adult.” I smiled.
“No, you didn’t, but don’t think I forgot. I may be old and my mind might slip on some things but never the birthday of my favourite grandchild,” she said, horrified.
“Gran, I’m your only grandchild.” I grinned. Adopted grandchild.
“And you always be my favourite.” I laughed at her. “Anywho, let me go get your present now,” she said and then dashed off, without letting me even argue. I wondered what Gran had got me. She always gave great presents; she got me an easy bake oven when I was eight and a doll house when I was nine, and when I was sixteen an amazing bone china tea set. It was beautiful, dark blue and gold on each cup and saucer, all made in England. Gran knew me well, better than most people and unfortunately better than my stepmom. She came back with a small box, a jewellery box? Which I found weird because I didn’t wear much jewellery or any most of the time but that didn’t matter because I knew I would love whatever Gran got me.
“Happy birthday doll, you’re going to like this.” She smiled and handed me the small golden wrapped box. I carefully peeled off the thin gold paper and then opened the lid to the little white box inside. An antique, bronze, delicate-looking key lay inside, I picked it up and looked at it. I moved my eyebrows up in question and examined my gift.
“What is it for?” I asked, confused. She smiled, pleased, and took my hand in hers.
“I’ll show you! You have no clue how long it took me to find this,” she said and then brought me to my room where a large, old wooden chest sat at the front of my bed with a fuchsia bow on it. I looked at it and instantly fell in love.
“Like it? I love it! It’s beautiful, where did you ever find it?” I asked, stroking the soft worn wood. I undid the two latches and used the key to open the lock. It was big and empty, the inside lined with a creamy, pale yellow silk with little dark green flowers. Gran smiled even wider and sat on my bed, that had the same red and white comforter it’d had since I could remember.
“I found it at an antique shop when I was looking for an old hat with Beatrice, and there it was, just gathering dust and I knew that it would be perfect for you, so why let it sit there? I had to get it,” she said cheerfully.
“It’s perfect.” I agreed, it was very me. I loved old fashioned things, I didn’t know why, I just did, they had so much more character and warmth. I gave her a hug, not too tight because she was so small and fragile. “Thanks Gran.” I smiled.
“Oh, love, don’t thank me, it’s my pleasure,” she said and then took a bunch of papers off my nightstand, she handed them to me. Tanya Amado, the first paper said, inheritance. I skipped that paper and read the next Miguel Amado, inheritance and then to the last pages Maya Amado, will. I looked at Gran confused.
“These are just photocopies, the real ones are in your safety deposit box,” she said with a serious face. I had a safety deposit box?
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?”
“My sweet child, you’re eighteen now. Now you are legally allowed to have your mother’s inheritance, I’ve been keeping it for you,” she said, looking a little sad.
“Oh, but why is dad’s and yours in here?” I asked, feeling sick.
“You should have your dad’s as well, it’s what he would have wanted. He thought of you more
