Chapter 36
Gil
The legendary “Grams.”
Since she is the biggest parental figure in Marina’s life, I wanted to impress her, bring her some flowers or pastries from my realm… But no, I had to let myself get completely carried away.
Marina and I sit on the old pink couch as Grams paces the length of the living room, blowing out a sigh now and again.
So much for getting her approval.
“May I first offer my sincerest apologies for the surprise?” I say, and wow does that not even begin to cover the apology I owe this woman.
“Hah! That’s one way to put it.” I can’t tell in her tone if she’s angry or amused or—
“Grams, I know this is a lot,” Marina says, cutting off my thoughts. Her eyes are glossy, and when the urge to squeeze her hand hits me, I don’t fight it.
“A lot.” Marina’s Grams speaks softly with a chuckle. “A lot.” She echoes our words a few times, shaking her head.
“It’s one thing for you to become lost in the thrall of passion with your new boyfriend—but Mari,” she says, letting out a large exhale, as Clawrece clambers through the living room at her feet.
“You know they have strict rules against keeping dogs here. Do you remember what the fine was when you brought that cat inside? And you know I get emotionally attached!”
“That was a baby racoon and the reason we got your eyes checked!” Marina argues, leaning down to pet Clawrece. “Speaking of which, you should really really put on your glasses.”
“I told you I don’t like the way these frames look—they’re not flattering to my bone structure,” Grams says with a huff. “Besides you being a little blurry doesn’t change—”
Marina rises, walks over to the coffee table, picks up an oversized pair of pink frames, and puts them down on her Grams’ nose.
The older woman blinks a few times, scanning the room,
“Huh,” she says, after a long moment. “Well, this just got a little more interesting.”
We explain ourselves from the beginning. From our summer camp meeting to our recent reconnection, but once the story stops? Marina’s Grams springs into motion,
She hops on cabinets, retrieving the most random assortment of things imaginable and throws them in her bags.
“Grams, shouldn’t we talk more?” Marina asks. Grams’ is a blur rushing around the apartment, and try as I may, I can’t get a read on her feelings.
Is she…
Kicking Marina out? A protective urge to explain the situation again takes hold, but then the red-headed woman pivots sharply toward me with a piercing gaze.
“Do they have the bagel seasoning where you’re from?” she asks, with all the seriousness in the world and…
Bagel seasoning?
“Grams, this is important!” Marina says, chasing her. They’re in the kitchen now, and my gaze bounces around the room trying to keep up like I’m tracking two pinballs bouncing around a machine.
“So is this,” she says, shaking a container of spices she’s retrieved from the kitchen.
“We have all sorts of seasonings available, ma’am,” I manage to reply, unsure exactly how it’s a concern.
“You like this brand, so we’ll play it safe, I suppose,” Grams says to Marina, shoving a few jars in her purse—and then Marina’s.
This bagel seasoning is apparently more coveted than I realized.
“Grams—I don’t need all these things!” Marina protests, bursting into laughter, and the tension in my shoulders relaxes. “Don’t you have questions, concerns, comments—”
“Yeah, yeah, I follow,” Grams says, casting her gaze in my direction. “You want to move to some other realm to be in a surf punk band with your swamp monster boyfriend—”
“That’s—one way to phrase it,” I say, blinking a few times. “With your blessing, of course.”
“It’s more folk electronica—and we’ve talked about it. I don’t want to leave you,” Marina says with a frown. “I won’t leave you.”
“Leave me?” Grams laughs. Shaking her head, she disappears down the hall, and by the time she comes back, it’s with a floral suitcase. “What makes you think I’m staying here?”
Her reputation suits her, fixing all our problems with one simple sentence. I let out a low laugh and lift her suitcase in my arms with ease.
“What?” Marina gasps as Grams walks toward the doorway.
“Just let me say goodbye to my raccoons first.”