Chapter 42
JULES
Worried skepticism creases Great-Grandma’s forehead as Cameron recklessly piles a hodgepodge of toppings on the dough. “Don’t you think we already have enough seasonings on our pizza, dear?”
Cameron blinks innocently at his father. “Dad, what’s a hooker?”
From a neighboring table, I glance over my back. I watch the way Lincoln’s eyes bulge in shock and his cheeks turn red at the question. “I…what, um…I don’t…”
Poor guy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this frazzled before.
Luckily, Nadia Westbrook quickly swoops over to our corner of the room.
“Delores!” she hisses. “What did I say about telling that story when there are kids around?” She flashes us a reassuring smile as she ushers the old woman away from our table.
“Don’t worry about the peppers, guys. They’re not spicy at all. ”
The charity gala is tonight. Lincoln and I will be meeting up with his associates and their wives.
For now, we’re all here at the Sin Valley community center participating in a multi-generational cooking class.
When I found out that pizza was on today’s menu, I couldn’t believe my luck.
I just had to get my great-grandmother here.
We all made the drive down from Fairy Bush yesterday evening.
Lincoln rented an oversized minivan for the trip.
Great-Grandma travels with an entourage so we needed to make sure that Cameron, Martha and Humphrey would be comfortable, too.
Instead of getting a hotel room, Lincoln rented a small house for the weekend, so everyone has their own space.
I’ve never seen Great-Grandma smile so much. She’s been having a blast with Cameron, and Lincoln has been showering her with attention. She loves it.
Today at the community center, there are seniors, children and everyone in between, all chatting and laughing merrily as they prepare their pizzas. The conversations are loud and the good vibes practically pulse through the room.
For this activity, we’re paired in groups of three. I’m at a table with Martha and Humphrey, making a Hawaiian pizza topped with mozzarella, ham and pineapple bits.
I spread marinara sauce across the dough with a spoon, expertly pretending to mind my business. But I’m totally eavesdropping on the conversation that’s happening at the table behind me, where Lincoln, Cameron and Great-Grandma are working on their own pizza.
“I’m really glad you accepted to come along with us, Mrs. Lannister,” Lincoln is saying.
I hear the happiness in her voice when she replies. “When Julissa suggested the trip, I was doubtful. But it really has been lovely getting out of the house and spending time with all of you.”
Humphrey leans over his shoulder to join the conversation at the neighboring table. “I’ve been telling you that for years. You need to get out of the house more, Jo Jo.”
Jo Jo? Huh?
Humphrey clears his throat, looking guilty. “I mean, Mrs. Lannister.”
I try to keep a straight face.
Both he and Martha have come out of their shells this weekend, talking, laughing and nibbling on the cheeses and deli meats as we work. It’s been nice, getting to know them a little bit better.
Great-Grandma emits a little huff. “You know me. I’m stuck in my ways. I enjoy my routines. It’s all familiar to me.” She sighs. “I’m just glad that Julissa was able to convince me to come along.”
Martha reaches for the dried herbs in the middle of our table, sprinkling them atop the dough. A little smile works its way across her lips. Clearly, she’s eavesdropping, too.
“That’s Jules,” Lincoln says with a chuckle. His voice drops lower and I have to strain to hear him. “My wife is very hard to say no to. Trust me. I learned that the hard way.”
Now, I’m the one quietly smiling to myself.
“You’re a lucky man, Lincoln. Do you realize how special my great-granddaughter is?” My heart thumps at the pride I hear in her voice. All I’ve ever wanted was for my family to be proud of me instead of casting me off to the side.
“Gosh—I definitely know how special she is. Never met anyone like her.” When Lincoln says that, my heart thumps yet again.
Great-Grandma huffs out a laugh. “I’ve definitely never seen a bride walk down the aisle in a leather jacket before.
That’s for sure,” she whispers. “But that’s the thing about Julissa.
She marches to her own beat, no matter what anyone thinks about it.
I’d say that’s pretty courageous, don’t you think? ”
“I agree,” Lincoln responds without hesitation. “Jules is the bravest woman I know. Her courage inspires me to be braver myself. Whether she realizes it or not, she inspires the people around her to be better in every way.”
I swallow, not sure how much longer I can keep my shit together as I listen to the two of them talking about me.
My eyes flick upward to keep a tear from spilling. Martha’s gaze hooks with mine. She smiles. I smile back.
My great-grandmother is silent for a moment. “I know that you’re good for my great-granddaughter,” the elderly woman speaks quietly again. “But promise me one thing?”
“What’s that?” Lincoln asks.
“Far too many men are careless with the women they’re blessed with.
A man will handle his wife irresponsibly until it’s too late.
Until she loses the fire that captivated him in the first place.
Then he’ll wonder why she’s no longer the woman he fell in love with.
” Great-Grandma pauses. “Be good to my girl, please. Don’t take her spunk away.
Don’t be the reason the fire inside her dies. ”
Those PMS hormones strike again. I lean down, wiping at my tears with the sleeve of my T-shirt. Damn. I’m such an emotional wreck these days.
Lincoln clears his throat, the sound weighed down by emotion. His voice cracks when he says, “I would never tame Julissa’s fire, Mrs. Lannister. I promise to cherish her for as long as she’ll have me.”
For as long as she’ll have me. Not forever. Not till his dying day. Because we are both aware of the timer counting down to the end of our marriage.
My chest squeezes tight and it doesn’t release until later when we’re all sitting together at a big rectangular table, eating our fresh-out-the-oven pizzas.
Great-grandma peaks across the table. “Humphrey, what is it you’re eating over there?”
“They call this recipe Hawaiian pizza,” he says, his mouth full. “It’s delicious.”
“Ham and pineapples?” Cameron asks, his nose turned up with skepticism.
“I’m pretty sure those ingredients don’t belong together.” Great-Grandma throws the child a horrified side-glance. “It’s criminal, don’t you agree?”
Cameron giggles, nodding away.
“You really need to try new things, Jo Jo,” Humphrey says on a hearty chuckle. This time, when he calls her that nickname, he doesn’t bother to correct himself.
The old man holds out his cheesy slice, stretching it across the table to my great-grandmother.
She turns up her nose at the unconventional mix of toppings. “Oh, no. I’m sure I wouldn’t enjoy that.”
“Come on. Try it,” Humphrey insists. His voice lowers. “For me.”
Their eyes lock together.
Then Great-Grandma’s lips part slowly.
My eyeballs bulge out of their sockets as Humphrey feeds the pizza to my great-grandmother.
I beg your pardon?
The elderly woman chews slowly, and Humphrey patiently waits for her reaction, his eyes never leaving hers.
Finally, the tiniest smile wobbles on the edges of her mouth.
“Not bad, right?” Humphrey asks.
Great-Grandma hesitates. Then her eyes go girlish and shy. “Not bad at all.”
Throughout the interaction, my eyes don’t blink once. My head snaps over to Martha. When our eyes meet, she lowers her gaze and tucks her chin to her chest to conceal her knowing grin.
What the…?
But then a concept settles into my brain. Looks like my Great-Grandma might be willing to take a new chance at love. And what about me? Might I be willing to take one, too?