Chapter forty-five
I came out of the bathroom fixing my hair and my grandmother sighed when she saw me.
“You look so beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at her.
“You're going to tell Thomas you're pregnant, aren't you?”
“I hope so.” I tensed up again when I remembered that subject.
“He needs to know, darling.”
“I know that, Grandma.”
“There's no reason for him not to be happy.”
“That's what I hope.”
“Come here...” She tapped a vacant space next to her on the sofa.
“Ah, Grandma!” I lay down next to her and rested my head on her lap, receiving a warm cuddle just as she used to when I was a child.
“You deserve to be happy, Helena.”
“I don't think life is about deserving.”
“It's about allowing yourself. You need it.”
“You're right.” I stood up and smiled at her.
“When you and Thomas get married, I want to move here.” She handed me a brochure, and I looked at it for a while until I realized that it was a retirement home for the elderly.
“Grandma, I don't want to leave you.” I twisted my lips, getting irritated and feeling a little tightness in my chest at the thought of the possibility.
“It's not about leaving me.”
“But...”
“Of course, I hope you'll come and visit me whenever you can, at least once a week, but you need to live your life, daughter. You can't be stuck in this house just because I'm here. Besides, it'll be better for me too. I spend all day in this house, alone, with no friends and only the television.” She pointed to the pamphlet. “They have doctors and physical and artistic activities. I'll have someone to live with, other people my age...
“I feel like I'm abandoning you.”
“I know you would never leave me.” She smiled, stroking my cheek lovingly. “Besides, it's not a public place.” She scratched her head a little awkwardly. “You'll have to pay for it. I thought that when you move in with Thomas, you could hand over this apartment and use the rent for that.”
“Of course, Grandma.”
We heard a horn that broke up our conversation.
“Now go!” She encouraged me to leave. “Have a great dinner.”
“Thank you.” I leaned over to kiss her cheek.
I went downstairs, still thinking about her proposal. My grandmother had always been everything in my life. I had never even thought about living in a house where she wasn't, but the possibility that she would be better looked after and could make friends made me think a little. It was something I would need to analyze before I could be sure.
“Hi!” Thomas smiled at me as I left the building, and our eyes met.
“Hey.”
“You look beautiful.” He ran his hand over my face and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “You are beautiful,” he corrected.
“You too.” I put my hand on his chest and moved up the lapels of his jacket until I reached his broad shoulders.
His steady gaze had me completely mesmerized. Even though he was more than a decade older than me, I couldn't remember feeling more attracted to another man at any time in my life.
“Let's go to the restaurant.” He moved his hands down to my waist and then held mine.
“For a restaurant, are you sure?” I joked in a more mischievous tone.
Maybe there was a bit of truth in my desire to take a little detour because my whole body warmed up at the thought of what it was like to be in his arms and dominated by his kisses.
“Don't tease me, Helena.”
“I'm well-behaved.” I played the saint.
“I know...” He leaned in and gave me a kiss that prolonged the contact between our lips, but he pulled away before I could reach for his tongue. “Let's get to the restaurant before we convince each other to change our route.”
“We can stay in a hotel and order room service. I don't even need to be served by a waiter...”
“Come on, Helena...” she insisted.
“Okay.”
Thomas opened the car door for me, and I settled into the back seat. While he went around the car to take the wheel, I put on my seat belt.
He drove back to Manhattan, and we stopped in front of a fancy building.
“Helena?” She held out her hand to help me down after handing the car key to a valet.
I held back my exclamations as we took the elevator to the top floor. The view was wonderful, allowing us to see the bay and the Statue of Liberty. The skyline was all lit up, and some aircraft were bright spots in the sky.
“How beautiful!”
“I'm glad you liked it.”
“You never cease to amaze me.”
“It's a sign that I've been doing a good job.”
“You are.”
“Please come with us.” The restaurant receptionist gestured for us to follow him.
“Where are we going?” I searched Thomas's eyes, curious.
“Hold on.”
We went up a side staircase to a small terrace where there was just a table set for two with decorations of green arrangements and candles. I had already experienced many moments with Thomas, but this one was special and seemed like the perfect opportunity to tell him that I was pregnant.
He pulled out a chair for me and waited for me to settle down before sitting down opposite me.
“I love this view,” he said, settling his napkin on his lap.
“You can't help but love it.”
“The only vision I like better is you.”
I felt embarrassed, and my cheeks burned, but I didn't say anything.
“Helena...”