Coming Home

Chapter 4

"So, you and Mat, huh?" Gran says while she pours us each a cup of freshly brewed coffee and I cut a slice of her famous chocolate cake.

"There's no me and Mat." I groan, even though I should've known that's where she would start.

She gives me a knowing smile. "Right."

"How come you ask him, of all people, to run errands for you?"

"He's just been helping me for so long that I didn't think much of it." She takes a seat next to me. "Besides, you two came here together, so..."

So her natural inclination was to meddle. What's new? Sighing, I take a bite of my cake, my eyes examining her. Despite her healthy appearance, I can't shake the sound of Matt's words from earlier.

"Matt said you were admitted to the hospital; that your diabetes is all over the place..." I say, unable to hide the hurt in my voice. We just talked recently. I can't believe she didn't say anything.

"I'm fine." She stands up to get us some sugar. "Matt is overreacting."

"Really? So, what did the doctor say? And do you really think it's a good idea to be having all this cake and sugar right now?" I raise my eyebrows when she puts two spoons of sugar in her mug.

"I've already seen a nutritionist, so I can start a new diet." She sips her coffee and I shake my head.

"Gran..."

"What?" She chuckles. "Can't I celebrate the fact you're finally home?"

"With coffee and cake?" I try not to laugh, but she's just too much sometimes.

"I could always get us a bottle of bourbon..." She shrugs, sitting by my side again.

I reach for her hand over the table. "You need to take care of yourself, Gran."

"I know, sweetheart." She squeezes my hand. "But I'm fine. You don't need to worry. Let me enjoy your visit and spoil you a little. Can we do that?"

How can I say no to her?

With a smile on my face, I give her a slight nod in agreement. "Now, while that's a good plan, you should know I'm onto you! You really need to be more careful with your health."

She beams, her expression radiating love and joy. "Great! Now let's go back to you and Mat."

"There is no-"

"What was it like seeing him again after all these years?" The sparkle in her eyes conveys a feeling of hope that makes me look away for a second.

"It was... I don't know... For a split second, it was like we were never apart. But then that wall of resentment and hurt went up so fast we didn't have an opportunity to actually talk about anything." I sigh, wondering if I'll ever be able to look at him without it being so painful.

"You two were so young to be talking about finite plans for the future... Hell, I'm almost seventy and still trying to figure life out." She snorts, making me chuckle.

"You should be my knowledge source." I wink at her.

"Ha, I wish! Joe finally had the guts to ask me out, and I have no idea of what I should wear or if I should put out on the first date," she says so nonchalantly that I choke on my coffee.

"Jesus, Gran." I erupt into a fit of laughter and coughing, sending coffee flying all over the place.

"There, there." She pats my back softly.

I grab a napkin from the table and dabbed it across my lips. "You're too much."

"What? His wife died about fifteen years ago. It's time he moves on." She stands up to get me a glass of water.