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“So,” Margaret started, “I remember you saying yesterday that you weren’t from here. But you grew up here, right?”
“Yeah,” I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, “I lived close to here. When it came time to go to college I…I needed to get away.”
“Where are you living now?”
“Virginia,” I answered.
“That far away?” Her eyes widened.
I frowned. “Yes.”
Her lower lip trembled with the threat of tears. “You mean, I’ve only just met you and I’m going to have to say goodbye so soon?”
I nodded sadly.
“Please say you’ll stay with us for a few days. We have a spare room ready for guests and I’d love to get to know you better before you leave,” she pleaded with me.
I looked across at Trace and he nodded.
“We can do that,” I answered. “You know,” I ventured hesitantly, “when we get back home, we’re going to have a wedding ceremony, since we didn’t have a real one here. Our moms want to see us…you know…actually get married. You should come.”
Margaret looked at Douglas and they seemed to communicate silently, a lot like how Trace and I did.
“We’ll try to make it, sweetie,” she assured me. “But we can’t make any promises. It’s a long way.”
“I understand completely. No pressure.”
“We want to,” she added. “We definitely want to. But Doug isn’t in the best shape for traveling by car and we can’t afford plane tickets—”
“Say no more,” Trace interrupted. “I’ll get the tickets. One for you too Dex and your daughter, if that’s okay.”
“I’m sure I can get out of work for a few days,” Dex shrugged. “Ella will be dying to meet you once I tell her,” he told me. “She’ll think you’re her sister.”
“I would love to meet her. I’ve always wanted a little sister,” I confessed.
I smiled at Dex, and then smiled at each of my grandparents. I had only met them today, but already the overwhelming sense of family was impossible to ignore. I felt…loved. But most importantly, I felt like I belonged.
“And this is the guestroom,” Margaret concluded the tour of the cape cod home. She flicked a light switch and the room was bathed in light. “You’ll use the bathroom I just showed you, since this room doesn’t have one connected. I hope you like it.”
“It’s great. Thank you,” I smiled, stepping into the room and looking around. The walls were painted a periwinkle color and the furniture was all white. A quilt covered the bed and I glided my fingers over the surface. “Did you make this?” I asked her, pointing at the quilt.
“I did,” she smiled.
“It’s beautiful.” I studied the different patterns. Some were floral, other stripes, and even circles. It shouldn’t have gone together, but somehow it worked.
“I have plenty of quilts I made lying around. If you see one you want, let me know, you can have it.”
“Oh, I couldn’t take one of your quilts,” I said, glancing out the window at Trace and my grandpa. Douglas was looking over the Camaro and gesturing wildly with his hands. Trace threw his head back in laughter.
“I insist. I have too many anyway. Doug has threatened to burn some,” she shrugged. “Take as many as you want.”
“If you’re sure,” I turned away from the window to face her.
“I’m positive,” she smiled. “You know,” she shook her head, laughing lightly, “I can’t believe you’re real. This seems like a dream. I’m afraid to go to sleep because I don’t want to wake up and find you gone.”
I stepped towards her and wrapped my arms around her. Her gray hair hung down her back and it was surprisingly soft. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m sorry,” she said when I pulled back as she wiped away more tears. “Today has been really emotional.”
