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“If we were supposed to stay away from caffeine, which we’re not, then everyone would be screwed because kids guzzle Coke these days, and there’s a ton of caffeine in that! So it can’t be the caffeine, Uncle Killian.”
“I see,” I murmur, pushing a mug of the good stuff at her. “Well, I guess I’m behind the times.”
“It’s more like you have no children of your own, so you don’t know,” Leah winks before taking a sip. She puts down her mug immediately. “Ouch! That’s hot.”
I grin.
“You’ve got to blow on it a bit first, sweetheart. Or do you want some milk and sugar with your coffee? That’ll cool it down a bit.”
She shakes her head.
“No, I don’t do milk because I try to stay away from dairy, and sugar is bad for you! It’s the latest research, Uncle Killian. Sugar is the devil.”
I frown.
“Really? But there’s sugar everywhere, including in fruits, veggies, apples, you name it. There’s sugar in milk too.”
Leah nods.
“Yeah, nutritional health is a joke because the experts always seem to reverse themselves. Ten years ago, red wine was good for your heart health. Now, they say that red wine is bad, so I’m sure they’ll reverse themselves on this sugar thing too. Just give it three years, and nutritionists will be telling us that cotton candy and bubble gum are the only things we should be eating.”
I chuckle.
“Yeah, nutritional science does seem kind of crazy. Is it even a science? I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either, Uncle Killian. But I do know that the discipline seems all over the map. It’s astonishing that they contradict themselves so often.”
I grin, enjoying my conversation with the beautiful woman. Leah’s intelligent, well-read, and obviously keeps up with current events, which is a surprise for a nineteen-year-old girl. But then I straighten because there’s news I have to deliver, and it’s not good.
“Sweetheart,” I begin in a somber tone, careful to maintain a distance across the kitchen island. “You know I appreciate you. But you also know that what we have can’t continue.”
She tilts her head at me.
“You mean, what we did at Wissam’s store?”
I nod.
“Exactly that. I’m too old for you, honey. You should find a boy your own age. Someone who’s not over the hill with wrinkles and gray hair—”
“You don’t have wrinkles or gray hair!” she exclaims indignantly. “Well actually, I see a strand or two at your temples, but it makes you look more handsome, Killian. Distinguished, even.”
I smile despite myself as my heart warms.
“Thanks, sweetheart, but you get my drift. You should be dating boys who don’t haveanygray hairs, period. They should be your age and share your interests. I’m an old coot by comparison, honey, and you’re too good for me. We don’t belong together.”
Leah shakes her head furiously.
“I don’t agree. We’re perfect together.”
I shake my head again.
“How can you say that? Leah, honey, I’m more than twice your age. I went to college with your dad and held you when you were two days old. I remember what it was like to live without a cell phone. Without computers and internet, even. You, on the other hand, can’t even conceive of such an existence. The world wide web has always been there, and our world views are different as a result.”
Leah squints at me.
“No, Icanconceive of a different age. I can conceive of a time when people didn’t have cars, and had to use horse-drawn buggies. I can conceive of a time when there was no TV, internet, nor cell towers, and everyone had to congregate in the town square to learn the latest news. I have an imagination, Killian, and I read too. I’m not dumb.”
I let out a heavy sigh.
