Chapter 16
“Lucas,” I said, patting his young hand with my old wrinkled one, “I completely understand how you’re feeling. But, Rebecca sounds like she’s used to taking care of herself. You need to move a little more slowly with her. Don’t overwhelm her, you overprotective brute.”
“I know, Nan,” he said, scrubbing his face with his other hand, “I just…I think I could love her. It’s fast, but I may be nearly there already,” he looked at me, reminding me of when he was a little boy and would panic over something. Here he sat at forty years old, panicking at the thought of loving a woman.
I chuckled, leaning back in my chair, “Its taken long enough for you to find someone. When am I going to meet this woman in person? She sounds like something else, to have you so beside yourself.”
“Soon, I hope.”
I stood up slowly, Lucas jumping to his feet to help me. I glared up at him, “Now, stop it. I’ve been walking for longer than you’ve been alive. I’ll be right back. Get yourself a snack,” I waved dismissively behind me, shuffling out of the room.
Lucas shook his head and grumbled to himself, but I knew he was finding his way into my kitchen.
He may be full grown, but he still listened to his Nan. This getting old wasn’t for the faint of heart, though. Everything in my body tended to hurt more often than not.
I continued into my room, hating that it took longer getting around than it used to, and moved over to my old jewelry box. I took out the ring box inside and opened it, smiling, remembering so long ago, when my own sweetheart had given it to me and asked me to be with him forever.
“Willard,” I said softly, looking over at his picture that sat on my nightstand, “our boy’s finally found himself someone special,” I said, snapping the box closed, before returning to where Lucas sat.
“A soda and cookies?” I scolded sitting back down in my chair
“They’re your chocolate chip,” he said with his mouth full and eyes big as I chuckled. Some things never changed.
“Lucas,” I said, handing him the ring box, “I want you to keep a hold of this. I think you’re going to need it. Your Pop and I decided a long time ago that it would be yours someday.”
He looked down confused and picked it up, opening the box.
“Nan. This is your engagement ring,” he breathed.
“I know what it is, I’m old, not blind,” I scoffed at him, “I don’t need it anymore. Your grandpa and I wanted you to have it.”
“You didn’t even give this to me when I was gonna ask Amelie to marry me in college,” he said confused.
“She wasn’t the one,” I retorted, “I have a feeling.”
Lucas just shook his head and closed the box and put it in his pocket gently,“Thank you, Nan,” he said gruffly.
I smiled, “You just bring her around to say hey.”
His phone rang and he pulled it out, checking the screen, “It's Becks and Nat,” he said smiling.
I leaned up, reaching over and grabbing it, quicker than I’d moved in a few years. When I answered what I thought was a call, it turned out to be a video call.
“Hello, girls. I’m Lucas’ Nan. Nice to meet you.”
Lucas was gaping at me in disbelief and I watched as two raven-haired beauties stared back at me with great big eyes. One set chocolate, the other ice blue. One older, the other a miniature of her mother. My old heart warmed towards them immediately.
“Uh…hi?” Becks said, chucking softly.
“Becks, Nat, I’m sorry,” Lucas finally said loudly.
Becks tossed her head back and laughed outright and I looked over seeing the way my grandson's eyes lit up at the sound.
I smiled to myself satisfied.
That’s all I needed to see.
Yes, Willard. This was the one.