Tell me about it. How are you feeling?
Honest answer: All over the damn place. A full wheel of emotions ready to spin out of control at any tiny shift in the day.
Better now that I have this fancy grilled cheese and fries to stuff my face with.
Good. I’ll try to text when I can, but I’ll call when I’m headed to you.
Sounds good. I have no idea when I’ll leave here, but I’ll get back as soon as I can.
You misread my text, Mia. I’ll call when I’m on my way to you. Winedown or home.
And not because you need me, but because I want to see you.
My cheeks blush from the simple words displayed on my phone.
You know me so well.
After finishing up my sandwich, I push my chair back and decide to go ahead and say hi to Harry before he leaves. In light of everything, I haven’t exactly had the chance to follow up on the way he and my grandfather actually knew each other.
Considering the hovering I’m already experiencing from my mom, it’ll probably be best for me to figure it out on my own. I’m just waiting for her to bring up the idea of stepping back from Winedown so I can shut it down.
I also don’t really want to be the one to bring up the topic either. Knowing her, she’d use my grandfather’s friend as an out and insist they take it over so it can still be in his honor.
“Hi, Harry,” I say, standing across the bar from him. “Have a nice lunch?”
He chuckles, sets his fork on his nearly empty plate, and pushes it slightly forward. “It was amazing as usual.”
I smile and place his plate on the back bar to grab on my way back through the kitchen. “If you’re up for suggestions for next time, might I recommend the honey berry grilled cheese? It’s only on our lunch menu, and it’s to die for.”
“I eyed that one for a minute, but didn’t know how I felt about blueberries in a grilled cheese.”
“I hear you. All I’m saying is, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. I was actually just finishing mine when they told me you were out here.”
He nods slowly and his eyes soften. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
“I-I’m sorry, what?” I blink, and my hands go right to my stomach. Is it really that obvious? My pant size hasn’t even changed yet.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. My wife and I had dinner with your parents last night. Your mother brought it up so cheerfully…I assumed?—”
Of course she did. I let out a breath. “No, you’re okay. Knowing you heard it from my mother explains everything. I’ve been processing it still, but thank you.”
“Understandable.” Harry stands from his chair and sets a hundred on the bar top.
“Leaving so soon?”
“Unfortunately so. Like your grandfather, I never exactly retired.” He pulls his coat on and he looks right into my eyes. “I know it’s not exactly my place to say, but last night we talked about how your grandparents would’ve liked Adam—I, however, talked a lot about how much your grandfather would’ve loved seeing you here in his place.”
My heart slams into my chest. The pain is so excruciating that I can’t even begin to express what it means to hear that.
“I’ll see you next week, Mia. I look forward to hearing baby and business updates. And I intend this as a friendly gesture—if you need any help, ask away.”
Finally, I find the strength to swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you, I appreciate that.”
He nods. “Keep up the good work, Mia. Your grandfather would be very proud.”
I’ve always believed in fate, to an extent. I believe that being lucky is a construct formed by hard work. But I had never really given much thought to the afterlife and ghosts until now.
It might all seem a little woo-woo, but in an odd way it makes me feel better. My grandparents were both pretty stubborn, so forcing a narrative in the afterlife seems right up their alley, or at least I hope they’re getting a kick out of watching it unfold.
