My grandfather huffed. “I wish I could go to the launch. Vibra’s been one of our best clients for the past several years.”
“I know, Grandpa. It must be hard to stay behind.”
My grandmother shook her head. “How many launches, extravaganzas, and other events have you been to, Tom? More than I can count. You know how excited you get at these events, and you’d be grumpier than usual if you couldn’t eat the food or have a few drinks.”
“You don’t have to keep reminding me of all the things I can’t do anymore,” my grandfather grumbled.
“We can go out for dinner tomorrow night at Nature Food.”
“I’m not going to spend good money for rabbit food. And that white stuff they try to pass off as meat is a joke.”
My grandmother chuckled. “You mean tofu? You’ve never had it. The way they prepare it at Nature Food is very tasty.”
“The only way to prepare it is to throw it in the trash and grill a steak.”
I guffawed and my grandmother threw me one of her disapproving looks. “Oh, Tom, you’re just being impossible.”
“Tell me we’re going to Rancher’s Steakhouse and you’ve got a date.”
“Then we’ll stay home.” A frown creased my grandmother’s forehead.
“Actually, Grandpa, Nature Food is really good. And they have turkey, chicken, and grass-fed beef.”
“Humph,” he growled.
“Grandma really wants to go out, and it’d do you good to get out of the house.”
He looked at my grandmother, then at the crackling fire. “Just this once. But if I see any of that tofu in my food, we’re leaving.”
With sparkling eyes, she nodded, then went over and kissed the top of his head. He wrapped his arm around her waist while tilting his head back. She bent down and they kissed. It was quick, but it held all the love, hope, sadness, and hardships that they’d been through during their fifty-year marriage. And for the first time, I wished I could have what they did.
Standing up, I grabbed my car keys. “I better get going. I’ll let you know how tomorrow night goes.” I gave my grandma a quick hug and squeezed my grandpa’s shoulder, then let myself out.
Instead of turning on Fillmore Street, I went straight, driving toward lower Nob Hill. Slowing down as I passed Cierra’s building, I noticed a black Lexus parked with the motor running across the street. A man sat behind the wheel, looking at Cierra’s building. It wasn’t a big deal, but for some reason I got a bad feeling from it. I went around the block and the car was still there. Slowing down, I tried to look at the driver, but he’d crouched down and I couldn’t see much. I went to the top of the hill and made a U-turn, and as I came back, the Lexus sped away from the curb, almost hitting my car. I swerved to avoid the impact and looked in the rearview mirror, trying to read the license plate. No such luck. Turning around, I tried to pursue him, but he had a head start and was nowhere to be seen.
I drove back to Cierra’s building and pulled into the parking space the Lexus had occupied a few minutes before. I looked up and could see Cierra’s apartment. My gut told me the guy was watching her place. The lights were on in her apartment and her shutters were open. I stood watching her, and the irony wasn’t lost on me that I was doing the same damn thing Lexus guy had done. But in my defense, I wasn’t there for any sinister reason. Something told me Lexus guy was.
Then Cierra came to the window, beautiful with her long hair spilling in front of her. She paused for a few seconds, then closed the shutters, vanishing from sight. I switched on the ignition and headed back to Pacific Heights. I’d have a couple shots of vodka and then head out to meet up with Nick, Drew, and Jeff at one of the bars in Union Square.
And I knew that while I sat there drinking absinthe, listening to the chatter of the women who’d inevitably join our table, all my thoughts would be of Cierra.
