“I could have left everything to Charlie in the will if she married me,” Grandpa muses.
“Very funny. She probably doesn’t want to inherit your eighty-year-old truck,” I answer snarkily.
Grandpa smiles at me. “Where were you tonight?”
“Are you asking because you want to know, or so you can tattle on me?” I narrow my eyes.
“Give me the real answer and then give me the diplomatic answer for your parents.”
I tsk as I shake my head. Twenty-four years old, and I’m still sneaking around. I guess living with your parents at this age is strange for a lot of people, but I work with them. It doesn’t make sense for me to move out, even if I would like my own space.
“The real answer: I was eating dinner at Zane’s house. The diplomatic answer: I was checking on the pairs on Mason Road.”
Grandpa tips his head down and stares at me. “Zane’s house, huh? No wonder you don’t want your mom to know.”
“Exactly.” I study the brown Band-Aid on the back of my hand. I can almost still feel the pressure of his thumbs there.
“Although I like that guy too. Maybe I’ll mention it to her …”
“I’ll tell Mom you’re sneaking cigarettes again.”
He scowls at me. “Tattletale.”
“Snitch,” I reply fondly.
“Why were you at Zane’s?” he probes.
“He … wants us to have a relationship.”
It’s the best way to describe it to Grandpa. He’s been my confidant for many years, but I don’t know if I can trust him with a secret of this magnitude.
The front door opens, and Mom pokes her head outside. “I thought I heard your voice. Come inside. You’re being antisocial.”
I hold my hands up in the air. “I’m out here socializing with Grandpa!”
“He doesn’t count,” she shoots back. “Sorry, Dad.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. Why would I be offended by something like that?” he replies wryly.
Mom tsks at him. “You know what I meant. Now get in here. We have company.”
Probably not a great time to tell her that it’s her company, not mine.
I stand slowly and follow Mom into the house. There’s company here all right.
It’s a man wearing a polo and khakis. He looks completely ill at ease standing next to our hundred-year-old dining table and mismatched chairs.
Dad is standing in the living room, one foot propped on the hearth while talking on the phone.
“Bliss, this is Carter Short. Carter, this is my daughter, Bliss.”
Carter moves forward and shakes my hand with one of his sweaty palms. “It’s wonderful to meet you. Your mom has been telling me so much about you. I can’t wait to get to know you better.”
I give my mom a little glare when I turn to look at her.
She mouths,Be nice, and then sits at the table.
“Carter is Henry’s second cousin. He’s opening his own real estate office here. Isn’t that wonderful?”
