AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My grandma’s chortles bring me out of my daydream. She has a hand on her chest as she looks around the room.
“It’s only a matter of time before Ruth downgrades. She loves this place, though. She’s lived here for more than forty years. It will be hard for her to let it go.” She walks around the island and waves for me to follow. “Let’s join the party.”
I nod to the open double doors that lead out to the yard and can now hear the chatter of the party happening just beyond the house.
“Can’t wait to let Ruthie know you’re here.” She beckons me to follow her. But “Ruthie” knows I’m coming, so her comment hits funny. Ever get a feeling like you’re the only one not in on the joke? Like there’s a candid camera somewhere? As if something is about to happen that will have Ashton Kutcher jumping out in the end telling you that you’ve beenPunk’d? Yeah, well, that’s the feeling that shoots through me as I watch the sly grin cross my grandmother’s face as quickly as it disappears.
The deck outside is perfectly proportionated to the rest of the house and features a few sets of lounge furniture. There are people milling about, but most of the guests are in the yard. There are two large white tents set up and servers walking around with food and drinks.
“This is so fancy,” I mutter.
“Once a year, she lets her fancy flag fly.” My grandma agrees. “Ruth!” she yells, gaining the other woman’s attention.
Ruth spots us and comes our way. I snag a beer from the man who’s walking around with a tray of long necks on them while I scan the yard for Layla. At least she’s keeping it simple with the beer and wine. Nothing fancy about that.
“Cole, you made it,” Ruth says, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Oh, good, you found a drink.” She takes a step back.
“You have a beautiful home,” I tell her and she beams.
“Thank you, darling. I love this place so much. Oh, the stories those walls could tell.”
“And it seems you’ve gone all out with this shindig.” I laugh, nodding out toward the tents.
She clicks her tongue. “It’s a tradition. But once a year is all I’ve got left in me. I think I’m getting too old for this.”
“It was bound to happen,” Grandma says.
“Maybe next year, I’ll make it a little less fancy,” Ruth says on a sigh.
“I think it all looks great,” I tell her, still trying to find Layla.
Grandma and Ruth continue to talk, but I admit I’m not listening just as I spot the woman I was searching for under one of the tents.
“Oh, Cole, I have a surprise for you.” Ruth pulls me from my lingering gaze.
“Really? I’ve had enough surprises for one day.” I nod to my grandma and she grins.
Ruth is looking around, muttering something, before raising her voice a little. “Mina! Mina, come here, darling!”
Fuck me.
This is not going to be a surprise well received.
Mina is suddenly by Ruth’s side, her sweet face looking all kinds of excited that I’m here.
Shit.
“Mina,” I tell her and lean in and kiss her cheek.
“Cole, surprise!” she says, opting to stand next to me now.
“I thought that since you and Mina seem to be hitting it off so well, an impromptu date would be just perfect. Plus, with Dorthy here, I know she’s been dying to meet the woman who’s caught your eye.”
Is it hot in here or is it just me? I tug at the collar of my polo, remembering that we are outside and it’s only in the mid-seventies. It must just be me then.
“Oh, yeah.” I grin and bear it.
“Well, I for one love this match.” Grandma smiles sweetly at me and Mina, and I swear, if she were a cat, she would be purring at the love Ruth and Grandma are giving us right now. But unfortunately, Mina isn’t the woman who has my eye.
