Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Eva
“I wouldn’t mind more of this warm March weather.” Grandpa Collins stood on the sidewalk, inhaling a deep breath. He wore a light jacket with comfortable pants and walking shoes for the outing.
The noise from the crowds and traffic in Coolidge Corner didn’t bother him one bit. He walked beside me, surveying the various shops, the bicyclists sharing the road with the cars, and the Green Line that screeched to a stop to let people off and others on.
“Wow. Look at all those people squished on the train. They look like sardines. Must be ripe in there.”
I laughed. “You get used to it. It’s not that bad. Wanna hop on and experience it yourself?”
“No thanks,” he blurted out.
The Green Line track ran parallel to Beacon Street, giving the residents a convenient way to travel into Downtown Boston and nearby cities with ease.
Like any crowded city, parking was rare and expensive.
Public transportation had been helpful. We waited at the curb for the walk sign blinker to go on.
“Eva, it’s so lively here.” He beamed. “There’s so much to see! So much to do!” Like a kid at an amusement park, he turned this way and that with curious eyes.
I thrived on the energy of city life. Coolidge Corner was just outside of Boston, so though it was alive, it wasn’t crowded like Boston.
The joy on Grandpa’s face delighted me. At seventy-five, his eyes and mind were still sharp, making him look at least ten years younger than his friends who were the same age. I hoped to age gracefully like him.
This carefree day was exactly what I needed to clear my head about what I wanted in my life.
And what I wanted in a man. Despite not wanting to date, I couldn’t dismiss this attraction to Kain.
He was older than me, but not that it mattered.
What if I started dating him and realized it was a mistake because he wanted someone closer to his age?
Two other men had asked me out over the past couple of weeks.
They’d been into the shop before with their significant others.
The audacity of some people baffled me. Did they think I was stupid?
That I’d be okay dating someone else’s man?
Hell no. I had respect for myself. If a man wanted to be with me, he could only be with me.
If I had it my way, I’d craft a thorny bouquet of greenery with a few poison ivy leaves mixed into the arrangement and deliver it to the jerks’ offices with a lovely card that read: “From Your Secret Admirer.” They’d open it really fast.
On behalf of all women in the world, you’re welcome.
But practicality stopped me, of course. I was a professional. So that little fantasy played out only in my head for my future flower shop that had a collection specifically for cheaters. That could be a bestseller.
I didn’t like cheaters and liars. Who did? The last thing I wanted was to be someone’s side piece, side dish, or whatever else people called it. I cringed at how awful that sounded. I was not an appetizer, nor an accessory, dammit.
But I was that “side piece” to Dennis. That experience taught me an unforgettable lesson: I was worthy of being more. Why was I thinking of him? I knew I shouldn’t lump all men into one basket, but it seemed like jerks were everywhere.
“I can understand why you don’t want to live in New Hampshire.” Grandpa Collins’s voice pulled me back to the moment as we crossed the street, then started browsing window displays again. “The most exciting thing that happens there is a cow walking into our complex.”
I laughed at how the country folk reacted to the energy of the big city. “Sometimes I crave the quiet too.” That was the truth.
“Visit me anytime, sweet girl. Thanks for showing me around today. It’s good for my old mind, you know? At my age, it’s good to see something new. Makes me feel young again. Strengthens my heart.” He placed a hand over his chest, where a small scar lay underneath his light sweater.
With the recent heart valve surgery and his ongoing Parkinson’s, I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. I never got to meet my mother’s parents because they’d passed before I was born. So I cherished my time with the family I had left.
“So are you dating anyone these days? You broke up with Dennis a while ago, but I haven’t heard you talk about anyone lately. What about that fella Kain?”
I shook my head. “Not dating anyone yet. Too busy.”
“Gotta make time for you, Eva. What’s that Kain do for work? Is he a criminal or something?” Grandpa asked as we passed Quench Your Thirst, one of my favorite places to go for drinks.
“No! Where did you get that idea?” I laughed in disbelief as we strode toward Etched Square. “He’s just a friend.”
Why was Grandpa asking so many questions about Kain? Did he sense something between us?
“He seems like he was worried about you.”
“Friends can worry about each other, can’t they?”
“I guess so.” He shrugged. “There must be something wrong with the men in this city. Why aren’t they lined up to date my gorgeous granddaughter?”
I chuckled at his serious expression. “There’s nothing wrong with being picky, Grandpa. Just so you know, I’m not interested in criminals.”
“Well, your grandmother said I stole her heart, so I suppose that makes me a criminal.” He winked, and my heart warmed at his sense of humor.
Grandpa and Grandma were the most loving couple I’d ever met.
The memory of my grandmother sparked in his wise eyes.
Come to think of it, my grandfather and my father were shining examples of how real men should treat their women.
I guess I forgot that when I fell for Dennis. I missed my parents so much.
Not wanting Grandpa to miss his wife, I changed the topic. “Do you need to rest?” I asked, turning onto Etched Square.
The four buildings that made up the area stood like gods, watching over the town.
Each building had its own unique architecture.
The Kessler Building was the tallest and widest, with twenty floors, towering over the other three, which were all distinctive-looking.
From a distance, the Kessler Building almost looked like a work of art.
Retail stores covered the ground level, with a massive gym on the second floor.
The rest of the building appeared to be office and residential space.
Between the buildings were retail strips with apartments above them.
I’d seen an ad promoting an open house once.
That kind of luxury apartment was beyond my pay grade.
“Don’t worry about me.” Grandpa flexed his biceps. “I’m as strong as a bull.”
We strode by a clothing boutique called Sew It Seems. The sign said they had a new selection of clothes from local designers. I wanted to check that out another day. I didn’t want to bore my grandfather by looking at dresses.
His stomach growled, and he placed a hand over it.
“What do you want for lunch?” I smiled. “We have all kinds of restaurants here. There’s The Laughing Matter, Family Munch, Luigi’s Pizza, India Spices, Thai Cuisine, and Greek Islands, just to name a few.”
“I’ll eat anything,” Grandpa said, glancing around.
As I walked toward The Laughing Matter, a sensation slithered around me.
Then my eyes landed on the man who’d just been in my thoughts.
Kain was sitting in the outdoor seating, talking to two other men.
Normally, the outdoor spaces didn’t open until late April, but today’s warm weather called for it.
Kain didn’t see me, so I stole a moment to study him.
Attractive and magnetic, I couldn’t look anywhere else but at him.
“The Laughing Matter sounds interesting,” Grandpa said. “Let’s go there.”