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Grandma Violet nodded approvingly. “Well, you certainly seem like a good man, Lucian. Much better than that good-for-nothing twerp Zoe had originally settled for.”
Zoe groaned and covered her face, embarrassed by her grandmother’s bluntness. I found it refreshing, though, to meet someone else who was so willing to speak her mind, much like her granddaughter.
Grandma Violet continued, “When you meet the right person, you just know it. Or at least I do. When I met Zoe’s grandfather, may he rest in peace, I knew he was the one for me. It wasn’t like he was perfect—but that was how I knew. He didn’t hide anything from me, and we were able to grow together, learn from each other and support one another.”
I took in Grandma Violet’s words, thinking on how there were still things I needed to tell Zoe. I had originally thought that it’dbe too soon to open up about all of it, but maybe Zoe’s elder was right. Maybe it was better to be open and honest from the start, especially if this might turn into something more.
Zoe let out a long sigh. “Grandma, settle down. I’ve known him for just a little over a week.”
“A little over a week? Pshaw! What’s the delay? Your grandfather and I only knew each other for three days before he proposed, then we were married a week after that.”
“Yeah, and then you divorced a month later.”
Grandma Violet shrugged. “But then we remarried again and had your mother nine months after that, which is the only reason you were subsequently born. So, my point still stands.”
“Grandma, please!”
Grandma Violet turned back to me, ignoring her granddaughter’s protests. “You see, Lucian, what I’m trying to say is that it’s important to follow your heart. Don’t let anything stand in the way of love.”
I nodded solemnly, taking in her advice. It wasn’t advice I had ever heard from my elders, or most monsters from the underworld, but the rules were different here and she seemed well-versed on the topic.
Zoe, on the other hand, was still blushing hard and covering her face, not wanting to acknowledge her grandmother’s meddling.
“Now, Grandma,” Zoe said, trying hard to change the subject, “we were only stopping by to see how you were doing. We’ll visit again soon, I promise.”
Grandma Violet nodded slowly. “I’m just glad you’re all right, pumpkin. When I heard about the fire this morning, I feared the worst.”
“I know,” Zoe said, taking Grandma Violet’s hand in her own and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry I couldn’t call you sooner. I lost my phone in the fire, and I was so exhausted, I completely forgot to call until the morning.”
The older woman nodded in understanding. “As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters.” She then glanced up at me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Now, promise me you’ll come by again soon… perhaps with a special announcement to share?”
Zoe was quick to brush off the comment as she leaned in to kiss her grandmother’s cheek, saying pointedly, “We’ll see you soon, Grandma.”
The elderly woman chuckled as Zoe stood up and took my hand, leading me toward the door. “It was nice to meet you, Grandma Violet,” I said, giving her a polite nod.
“The pleasure was all mine, Lucian,” she replied. “Take care of my granddaughter, all right?”
“I will,” I promised, before following Zoe out of the room.
We made our way down the hall and outside to my truck, neither of us saying a word until we were buckled up and heading down the road.
“So,” Zoe said, breaking the silence. “Sorry about that. I didn’t realize my grandma would be so…”
“Enthusiastic?” I offered.
Zoe laughed softly. “Yeah, that’s a good word for it. She’s always been a bit of a character, but she means well.”
“I could tell.” I glanced over at Zoe, taking in her expression. She looked a bit stressed again, which was more than expected, considering all she had been through lately. “Are you doing okay?”
She nodded, but it was clear she was still processing everything. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit overwhelmed.”
“All right,” I began, deciding to take the lead on what to do next. “First, we’ll get you a new phone. Then we’ll go clothes shopping. After that, we can head back and relax the rest of the day.”
Zoe smiled softly and nodded, seeming grateful for the plan. “Sounds good.”
I could tell she was barely holding it together, but I gave her some space to process everything. Maybe today wouldn’t be the day I explained to her everything about my past. Maybe that could wait until tomorrow, or even another week.
For now, I just wanted to take care of her and make sure she was safe and comfortable.
