Her head leaned back, and her eyes blinked a few times, taking on that innocent old lady look of “whatever do you mean?” like she was hiding her smile behind one of those fancy fans. “Mikey, come in, come in. I cooked your favorite.”
Rooted in my spot, I shook my head. “Nope. Not going in there. Whoever is waiting for me, you can tell them I’m not interested.”
She waved her hand at me. “You’re too suspicious, and I’ve got to say, it’s not a good look on you, dear. I’m not doing anything. I told you I was going to cook dinner for you.”
Peeping my head in, I didn’t see anyone. Glaring at her, I reluctantly walked inside, still keeping my guard up. The woman in question could be lurking in the bathroom for all I knew.
“You’re being ridiculous. Will you get in here? You’re letting out all the AC,” she said, smacking the back of my arm. It would’ve been my head, but she hadn’t been able to reach it since my growth spurt in tenth grade. I gave up telling her that the AC was a central unit a long time ago so I hurried inside to appease her.
“Well, it’s not like I don’t appreciate the ambiance, but if that table is set for the two of us, it’s kind of creepy,” I said, making her scowl. I loved that we could both dish it out and take it.
“I can still put you over my knee, young man. You and your fresh mouth,” she said, huffing down into the sofa. I pushed my lips out, trying not to smile at the thought. At six foot two, I’d crush her five-foot frame, but that didn’t stop her from threatening me.
“Just admit it. This is a setup. Who is it this time? Gemma’s PT? Edna’s piano teacher, who makes art out of recycled cans?Oh, wait. Maybe another one of Doris’ cousin’s friends who collects stuffed squirrels doing human things?”
We both shuddered. I mean, they were real squirrels. I didn’t know if the taxidermist put them in the little clothes or if she did. There was even a squirrel reading a newspaper on the toilet. It had glasses on, for goodness sake.
“No,” she grumbled. “If youmustknow, it’s Robert Haynes’ granddaughter. She’s a lovely girl. He has tons of photos of her in his place. She’s a singer.” She said the last part with such glee as if that was going to change my mind. For all I knew, she was a lovely singing squirrel collector.
I frowned. “Wait, the guy Gemma gave food poisoning to? No way.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Mikey, I’m not going to live forever. I keep telling you this. I want to see you madly in love and married. Settled down before I die.”
“Grammy, you’ve got to stop talking about dying,” I said, my voice rising. She knew it upset me, but I also understood how passionately she felt about this subject. She knew firsthand how lonely I was growing up as an only child, and that she was the only other family I truly had.
Her tired eyes brimmed with tears, and my heart sank. I could never bear to see her cry.
“Please don’t cry. You know what that does to me,” I said, sitting next to her and grabbing her hands.
“I don’t mean to be so emotional. It’s just. I love you so much. I don’t want you to be alone,” she said through a sob. My chest was tight, as was my throat. I didn’t know how to give her what she wanted because I really didn’t think I had what it took to be a husband.
“Don’t cry. It’s going to be fine. God has that perfect woman for me.” I pulled her to my side, trying to appease her.
She nodded and took a breath. “I know He does. He promised to answer my prayer for you. I just thought I could help Him out a little bit.” She began to cry softly again, and at that moment, I would have done anything to make her stop.
A crazy thought came to me, and I tried to push it away. But as I held the person who I loved more than anyone in my life, words came out before I could stop them.
“He already has. Or I think so anyway,” I said, my voice shaking.
What are you doing? Have you lost your mind? Retreat!
She gasped and pulled back, looking up into my eyes with a hopeful expression. The same eyes that watched me grow up—always supporting, always encouraging. The same hands that held me when I was afraid or cheered my achievements. Yes, I would do anything to make her happy, even this.
“He has? Mikey, why didn’t you tell me? When? Who? What’s her name?” she asked excitedly.
Before my brain could catch up to my mouth, I swallowed hard. “Renata. Her name is Renata.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Renata
Turningairplane mode off on my phone, I followed the crowd as we deboarded in San Diego. My flight had been delayed, making an already long journey even worse. I was hungry and tired, just longing for a comfortable bed to collapse into.
Preparing for my extended visit had been easier than I’d thought. I texted a trusted neighbor to pick up my mail and contacted my landlord about my trip. I had no siblings to call, no plants to water, no pet to make arrangements for. My career was my whole life, and that had been put on hold.
As I moved through the hallways toward customs, the truth of what my life had become was clear. No one would even miss me while I was gone. That revelation made my chest ache. How had I not recognized how isolated I’d become and how much I’d masked the deep loneliness with work?
The phone call to my parents came to mind as I walked quickly, sidestepping a family. My father was worried about me traveling alone again, but my mother scolded him for making mesound like a child who couldn’t take care of herself. He finally gave up, told me to have a safe trip, and said that he loved me, leaving me on the phone with her.
