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Satisfied that it’s nothing serious, I take a bite of one of the cinnamon rolls I’d made from scratch, then address her original comment.
"I told you I make good money now as a shot girl and I wanted to spoil you." I had to tell her last month that I’d switched jobs when she questioned where the extra thousand in her account had come from. "When people are drunk, money flies, so I make sure to keep the shots coming all night."
"Aubrey," she groans. "I know what else happens when men are drunk, sweetie. I don’t want anything to happen to you."
I smile at her concern. "All I do is flash my pearly whites and the money rolls in. Nothing to worry about."
"As long as you’re not flashing anything else."
Dread forms in the pit of my stomach from lying to her, but I push it aside and ignore it. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. She’s my world, and the very last thing I want to do is hurt her.
"Grams, I want to spoil you and your cats."
Grammy's eyes soften with love. Taking the pills all at once, she gulps hard. "You played me, young lady." She jests, and I smirk. "Giving me gifts for my cats."
I chuckle and a smile spreads across my face. The way to her heart is through her cats. I may have gone a little overboard, but she deserves it. On top of all the cat gifts, I had a monthly food delivery set up for them.
"I did what I had to do. I figured it would be better on your arthritis not to have to lug those heavy boxes and bags inside."
"You have no idea. I didn't even know I could order a subscription thingy. I wish I had known sooner."
Swallowing the last bite of my sweet bread, I set my fork down. "I only just found out myself after I did some internet searching for ‘lady in the shoe’ gifts."
Her eyes twinkle with laughter. "Have I turned into that lady?"
"Uh, yeah, you have. But if they make you happy, then who cares?"
She looks over at her tabbies playing in the obstacle tower. "Life is too short to be anything but happy, Aubrey. You, my cats, you all set my soul on fire with love and so much joy. Those little fur babies love unconditionally, and it’s something this world needs more of." She looks back at me with clarity in her eyes. "No matter how outrageous, how weird, how strange your view might seem to someone else, you should never settle for anything less."
I swallow hard and avert my gaze to her cats. I've yet to tell her about Daniel, but with good reason. I don't have to guess for a second that she wouldn't approve. She'd tell me to dump his butt—not ass, because she won't curse—and move on to another fish. While Daniel doesn't set my soul on fire, he helps ground me and makes me feel stable at this moment in my life, and I'm okay with that. I'm not settling for good. I'm settling for just this moment.
"This is by far the best Christmas I've ever had," she says, her voice cracking a little.
Her words take me away from my thoughts and I observe her while she looks at her cats with longing. Grammy is happy, and I know the tears in her eyes she's trying to conceal are from joy.
"It's one I'm going to cherish forever and ever."
Thirty-Five
It's too early to be up. I’d tossed and turned all night again with all the shit on my mind. Lately the lack of sleep has been worse, and I can't figure out why. It's like a glass of water sitting on the counter that starts trembling because of a grumble in the distance. The closer the tremor gets, the more it vibrates. Then it stops. Then it starts up again. It's unsettling, and I don't like it.
Expelling a heavy breath, I go straight to the kitchen and pour a glass of orange juice. It's mid-January and I'm ready to get back to my schedule—and my life.
"I miss school. I can’t wait for classes to start back up."
"Only you would say that. Winter break is too short for me," Natalie says.
She's sitting on the couch bundled up. The winter has been cruel this year, and as much as I love the cold, I'm ready for it to be over.
I drink a full glass, pour another, and drink that too.
"I need the distraction from the weird-ass clients I've had lately."
She looks over at me. A sly smile spreads across her lips. "Spill. We can exchange war stories."
I close my eyes and shake my head, trying not to think about last night. "I can't. I don't want to relive it."
"Bitch, you better tell me," she says, then gets up and comes into the kitchen.
