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“Yeah, I guess it could be, but it’s how I grew up. I know my parents love me. There’s no doubt there, and they did an amazing job providing support for my cousin too.” I cleared my throat and shrugged. “But it’s just not… tight. You know?”
“You mean everybody’s business isn’t the topic of every conversation?” she joked, putting her hand on my knee.
“Something like that.” I eyed Emily and wondered how we’d finally made it to this point. Things felt so good… amazing.
And it was almost easy enough to forget that there was a possibility that she could be leaving for three months.
“I just can’t believe I’m about to do the walk of shame at my own house in front of my grandparents. Isn’t she going to be embarrassed knowing her granddaughter…”
“That’ll teach her to break a hip,” I teased. “But if you don’t mind, I’ll just wait out here.”
Emily laughed and nodded. “I wouldn’t dream of having it any other way. Believe me.”
I pulled up in front of her bungalow, and she started to climb out of her car, but I grabbed her wrist and brought her in for a kiss.
It felt so good, knowing I didn’t have to pretend any longer.
“I’ll be waiting,” I told her.
She smiled and planted another kiss on my mouth before she got out of the car.
I turned on some music and sat back in the seat, closing my eyes as last night ran through my brain. Spending last night with Emily was incredible, and she didn’t seem to be shutting down or clamming up so far, which was what I’d been worried about.
But the poetry residency kept going through my mind, too. Three months was a long time, and I would have no problemwaiting for her to return. My only hope would be that she would come back.
A tap on my window surprised me, and I opened my eyes to see her grandpa peering through the window with a cup of coffee.
I rolled down the window and smiled. “Good morning.”
“Especially for some, heh?” He leaned against the car and nodded, looking toward the horizon.
I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed quiet and tried not to laugh. Now, I understood what she meant when everyone was in everyone’s business.
“How are things?” her grandpa asked.
I nodded, smiling. “Things are going well.”
“Good. Good.” He brought his eyes back to me.
“I hope you know that I treasure your granddaughter.”
“Oh, I have no doubt that you do.” He nodded and straightened, taking a sip of coffee. “But I wanted to warn you.”
I glanced toward the bungalow.
Oh, no. Not the shotgun talk. I’d always despised that concept.
He lowered his head so I would be sure to hear him. “She’s a flight risk.”
“Pardon?”
He pressed his thin lips together and nodded sympathetically. “Her grandmother was like that too, and I recognize the similarities.”
“Oh,” was all I said since my mind drew a blank.
“There is this impulsive quality about them. Mimi likes to think of herself as more pragmatic, less mystical than the other side of the family. But truth be told, she’s more damn spiritual than any of them. She doesn’t even cut flowers out of her garden for fear of hurting them.”
I laughed, shaking my head. Mimi always struck me as no-nonsense. The thought that she was kind to a rose puzzled me.
