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When I crank the truck, Kaitlyn faces me. “What’d my dad say?”
“He threatened me if I hurt you.”
She snorts. “I’d expect nothing less.”
“Me neither. Where to now?”
Kaitlyn sighs. “We have to go to Grandma’s house. If she finds out through the grapevine, we’re both dead.”
I chuckle. “Okay, okay. The last person I want on my bad side is Rose.”
On the way over, Kaitlyn chats about her family’s reaction. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”
“Nah, they seemed very happy and excited.” Just like I’d hoped.
“They did! It’s a relief,” she admits. “Maybe I worried for nothing.”
“Maybe. Not like they were gonna blackball and ignore you. Your family loves you a lot.”
“They love you too,” she says. “I think they were happy to hear you’re the dad and not some random dude I met at a bar.”
“Even if it were, they’d still accept you and the baby, Kate. You’re lucky. That’s not something you should ever take for granted.”
“I don’t and won’t, BD.” She smirks.
We park in front of the big white farmhouse with the wraparound porch, and now I might be more anxious than before.
“You know she’s gonna expect a weddin’ too,” Kaitlyn warns when we get out of the truck and make our way up the steps.
“Oh, I’m well aware.” I reach forward and knock a few times.
“I’m comin’, I’m comin’.” I hear from the other side. “Takes an old woman some time to make it across this big house.”
Rose opens the thick wooden door and pushes the screen open. “Today must be my lucky day! C’mon in, kids.”
Kaitlyn gives her grandma a kiss on the cheek, and I plant one on the other, then she leads us to the living room. Her house is the epitome of a Southern grandma, with the quilts and crocheted afghans carefully placed on the back of the couch. Makes me feel right at home.
“I just made some chocolate chip pecan cookies. Y’all want some?”
“You know the answer is always yes,” Kaitlyn says. “I’ll come help.”
Kaitlyn follows her into the kitchen, and I hear them make small talk about the weather and the gossip Rose heard at church last weekend. A few minutes later, Rose walks in with a plate of cookies while Kaitlyn brings a platter with three large glasses of milk.
I take mine along with a few cookies. “They’re even still warm.”
As soon as I take a bite, I groan at how delicious it tastes. I swallow it down with the coldest milk I’ve ever had. “Best I’ve ever had,” I say around a mouthful.
Kaitlyn follows my lead and moans. “Grandma, these are so good.”
“I’ll have to give you the recipe later,” she says. “Now, why are y’all really here?”
Kaitlyn playfully gasps. “To visit my favorite grandma in the whole wide world.”
Rose tilts her head. “Might’ve been born in the mornin’, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”
I chuckle because it’s something I’ve heard her say several times.
“I wanted to tell you some news,” Kaitlyn finally says. “Before anyone else does.”
