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"Sometimes that makes me worry."
"Why?Not giving up is a good thing."
"It can be.Unless whatever you're working on becomes an obsession, a reason to overlook other parts of your life."
"You have a one-track mind when it comes to my life," she said with annoyance."Love, love, love."
"Or lack thereof."
"I date, Grandma.I just haven't found someone I want to think about more than I want to think about my job.Maybe it will happen one day.Maybe it won't.I'm not concerned about it, and you shouldn't be, either."
As she finished speaking, she was startled by a loud crash in the backyard.Her grandmother jumped, too, fear entering her eyes.
"What was that?"her grandmother asked.
She stood up."It sounded like it came from the backyard."
"Don't go out there.The last time I heard a crash, it was followed by men with guns."
"Let's go upstairs."She grabbed her grandmother's hand, not sure if she was making the right move to go up the stairs instead of toward the front door, but if someone was outside, she thought staying in the house was the best move.
They hurried up the stairs, her grandmother breathing heavily by the time they made it to the third floor.At the landing, she glanced out the window which overlooked the backyard.She couldn't see everything, but she could see a shadow moving by the shed in the garden.
"Is someone out there?"her grandmother asked.
"I'm not sure.I saw a shadow, but now it's gone."They stood still for several long minutes, but there was no other sound."I think it's okay for me to go downstairs and check it out now."
"No," her grandmother said, squeezing her hand."Maybe we should call the Polizia."
"It could be nothing.And I left my phone downstairs."
"Mine is there, too."
As she was debating what to do, the doorbell suddenly pealed, and they jumped again.
"A thief wouldn't ring the bell," her grandmother said."It's probably a neighbor checking on us.Or maybe it's Victor and Joelle.They might be early."
"An hour early?"
"I don't know," her grandmother said as the bell rang once more."But I don't think it's a thief."
"Okay.I'll check it out."She jogged down the stairs, her grandmother following more slowly.She peered through the window next to the door and saw an older man and a woman about her age standing on the porch."Is Joelle a redhead?"she asked.
"Yes.At least, she was the last time I saw her," her grandmother said as she came down the last flight of steps.
"It's them."She opened the door as her grandmother came up next to her.
"Sorry, we're early," Victor said."If it's not convenient, we can go get a coffee and come back."
“Don't be silly.I'm happy to see you both," her grandmother replied, moving past her to hug and kiss her nephew and then his daughter.
"We weren't sure you were here," Joelle said."When you didn't answer right away."
"I was upstairs," her grandmother replied."This is Isabella, Sylvie's daughter."
Surprise flashed in Joelle's green eyes."Isabella?I never thought we'd meet."Joelle stepped forward to give her a kiss on each cheek.
"I would have known you were Sylvie's just by looking at you," Victor said as he welcomed her."You look very much like her."
