“Hi.” I twirled the long plastic cord between my fingers, keeping an eye on the pot to make sure Gran’s oatmeal didn’t bubble over.
“How’d you sleep?”
I brushed the center of my lips, the feel of him still there even though it had been hours since he’d dropped me off at the train station following my performance. “Pretty great, you?”
“I was up all night, finishing my paper.”
“Ashe—”
“I wouldn’t change a thing.” I could hear him smiling. “I know I told you this after your play, but, Pearl, you were incredible.”
His words caused my cheeks to turn hot, the same way they had when he handed me a bouquet of flowers outside the auditorium. When I’d gotten home, I’d cut the stems to make them fit in a glass and placed them on the counter. And when I had gone to bed, I could still see his grinning face in the audience as the lights onstage dimmed, no longer blinding me, as he stood, clapping, while I took my final bow.
No one had ever bought me flowers before. The bunch of blues and purples and pinks were some of the most beautiful I’d ever seen. I hadn’t known what to say when he gave them to me. I was still at a loss for words as I stared at them now.
“Thank you.” I quickly looked in on Gran and saw her reading on the couch. “And for the flowers too—again. They’re stunning. Ashe, I love them.”
“You’re welcome.” He paused, and I stretched the cord to the stovetop to give Gran’s breakfast a final stir. “I know things are crazy for you while you wrap up the play, but I want to see you. Tell me when you can make that happen.”
I poured the oatmeal into a bowl, the steam telling me it was too hot to give to Gran. “How about Sunday night?”
“Does that mean I can have you until Monday morning?”
The moments we’d spent in his bed had been replaying in my mind. How difficult it had been to keep my hands off him, how different he had felt compared to the other men I’d kissed. Even his lips were more intimate.
“Yes,” I answered, pushing myself into the corner of the counter.
“What about Gran?”
I turned, looking at her again through the cutout above the sink.
I’d left her before—she didn’t require around-the-clock care—but I had just worried the whole time I was gone. The thought of her falling in the middle of the night, the idea of her being lonely—my heart couldn’t handle either.
“I think she’ll be okay, but we’ll see.”
“I understand, Pearl, and I support whatever you need to do.”
That was something I liked the most about him—he really did understand, and he was always so concerned and thoughtful when it came to her.
My voice was only above a whisper when I said, “I really appreciate that.”
“I’ll see you Sunday night, then?”
I rinsed out the pot and added water to boil for her tea. “Yes, you will.”
“How about I pick you up at your place?”
I dropped a tea bag into an empty cup, my hand freezing around the base of it. That was one thing I just wasn’t ready for yet. “I’ll meet you at your apartment, okay?”
“You got it.”
We said good-bye and hung up, and I brought the oatmeal into the living room, setting it on the table in front of Gran. “Your tea is almost ready, just a few more minutes.”
She picked up the spoon, trying to find a comfortable grip, changing it several times before she settled. “Thank you, dollface. How’s Ashe?”
I laughed. I couldn’t hide a thing from her.
She patted the spot next to her, and I took a seat, watching her move the bowl onto her lap.
“He’s doing fine,” I answered. “He was calling to see if I had time to get together.”
“And?”
There was a clean napkin on the table, and I lifted the oatmeal and placed the napkin underneath it, so if any spilled, it wouldn’t burn her. “I’m seeing him Sunday night.”
“I’m proud of you, baby.” Her hand moved on top of mine, tapping my fingers. “I know this has been a bit difficult for you, but you’re doing the right thing.” She smiled, the lines around her mouth deepening. “And those flowers are just beautiful.”
“Aren’t they?” I grinned.
“You deserve to be courted, and that Ashe is doing a fine job.”
I didn’t disagree.
“Be right back,” I said, hurrying into the kitchen to finish her tea. I plopped a straw into the mug before I brought it out to her. “Careful, Gran. This is really hot.” I placed it on the table.
As I sat, her hand cupped my cheek. “You keep me fighting, dollface. Every day I spend on this earth is because of you.” Her baby-powder scent strengthened the longer she touched me, only adding to the sentiment in my chest. “Maybe one day, when your children are grown, you’ll be able to see all the things you’ve done for me and realize how amazing you are.”
I turned my face, kissing her palm. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Gran.”
Emotion moved into her eyes. “Get off to school. I don’t want you to be late.”
“Can I get you anything before I leave?”
“I have everything I need right here.”
I released her fingers and stood. “I’ll be back after the play tonight.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said as I rushed into the hallway to grab my bag from my room. “Just like I’ll be on Sunday when you stay at Ashe’s.”
Her hearing wasn’t perfect, so I was surprised she’d been able to piece together what Ashe and I had spoken about.
“Gran …” I said when I returned to the living room, wearing my jacket, my bag hanging from my shoulder.
“Don’t you Gran me, missy.” She took a bite of her breakfast, the look on her face emphasizing her words. “I want you to go out and have fun and not worry about me.”
“That’s impossible. I’ll always worry about you.”
“Pearl”—she set the spoon into the bowl—“one day, you’re going to be old, like me, and you won’t be able to get these years back. I won’t let you live with regret, do you hear me? So, go out and have fun and enjoy yourself and laugh. Go run those feet around the city and kiss in the rain and hopscotch over the puddles—things I can’t do anymore. Be a kid—that’s all I’m asking—and don’t miss out on life because of me.”
“I’m not missing anything because of you.” I walked back over, sitting so I could be close to her. “You make everything better, Gran.”
Her hand returned to my leg. “Promise me.”
I clasped my fingers over hers, her skin always so cold. “Promise.”
She puckered her lips together—an expression she used to call her kissy face when I was younger.
I leaned in and smooched her cheek. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“I love you, baby.”
Twenty
Kerry
Where are you taking me?