Chapter Twenty One
COLTON
On Monday morning, we went to visit Grandmother at her home.
"Won't she be overwhelmed with everyone here at the same time?" Zoey asked as we approached the front door.
"No, it's just us. I coordinated with my brothers so we wouldn't crowd her.”
"You coordinated? Oh, that's so cute. What did you do, make a WhatsApp group for it?"
"We already have one."
"Oh, right. My bad," she said. Then she patted the small bag she was holding as we stood in front of the door and I knocked.
"I brought her a small 'get well' gift. I hope she likes it."
"Damn it, why didn't I think of that? Can we tell her it's from both of us?"
"No," she said. "This is me. All me. Besides, trust me, even if we do say that, she'll know."
Zoey was probably right. Grandmother would be pleased that Zoey did something so kind.
Grandfather opened the door. "Hi, Colton, Zoey. Nice to see you again."
"And you, too, Mr. Whitley."
"Please, call me Abe."
"How's she feeling?" I asked in a brisk tone.
"She's good."
"Is she taking it easy?"
"Yes. I’m onto her. She's trying to get away with things, but she can't. Honestly, I'm having a lot of fun."
"Why?" I asked as Zoey frowned.
"Payback for how much she warded over me the past few years."
I glanced at Zoey out of the corner of my eye. Her mouth hung open. She still had a lot of things to learn about my family. Sometimes my grandparents managed to surprise even me. I didn't know my grandfather was one for vendettas.
"Come on. Don't party out there without me," my grandmother called from the living room, and we all headed there.
"Zoey!" she exclaimed when she saw us. "Oh, it's so nice of Colton to bring you again."
"Of course," Zoey said. "I wanted to see how you were feeling. And I brought you these," she said, setting the bag next to Grandmother.
"What's this?" she asked.
"My favorite romance novels. I've read them about a million times. They always put me in a better mood, especially when I'm sick and can't do much else besides read."
Zoey was right. Grandmother would never have believed it if we'd told her that I'd pitched in on the present too.
"Thank you, Zoey! Everyone usually brings flowers, and then what am I supposed to do with so many of them? Romance books! Now that is going to keep me occupied for a while."
"How are you feeling?" Zoey asked as Grandmother took out a book.
The dude on the cover was mostly naked. Grandfather jerked his head back. It took a lot of effort not to laugh at him.
Grandmother looked at the rest slowly, turning around each cover as if she wanted to give my poor grandfather a heart attack—all the guys were half dressed —before putting them back.
"I would like to say I feel just fine, but my headaches are still popping up if I overdo it. I can read though. I just can’t move around a lot.
Luckily, Abe here is hot on my heels no matter what I do. ”
"That's great," Zoey said. "You know, I think it's easier for most of us to let others care for us because we’re not used to caring for ourselves."
"I guess I never thought about it like that," Grandmother said. "Now, what can we get the two of you? I made some scones earlier."
A vein pulsed in my temple. "You what?" I asked.
"Oh, young man, don't use that tone with me. The doctor didn't say I was bedbound. He said movement is important for circulation, but he advised I stay around the house because everything is familiar. at least until I get my strength back."
"He did say that, actually," Grandfather said. "And she wasn't overdoing it," he added quickly, anticipating my next question.
Zoey gave me an exasperated look. I had to tone this down or everyone would turn against me.
"I'll bring them from the kitchen if you tell me where they are," Zoey offered.
"I'll come with you," I said.
Grandmother nodded. "Good, you do that. Colton knows his way around the kitchen."
"How come?" she asked me.
Once we were out of my grandparents' earshot, I said, "My grandmother used to cook these elaborate dinners, and my brothers and I would clean up afterward. At some point, after Grandfather had a health scare, she agreed to hire a cleaning service. Maybe I can convince her again."
"I don't know your family that well, but I think you might be pushing it."
I started to laugh. "You've read them well, although I do have to say, both of them are surprisingly impatient today."
The corners of her mouth turned down. "I think it's normal. They're probably both on edge."
The scones were done but still inside the warm oven. We took them out, put them all on a plate, and brought them to the living room.
"So, when are the rest of your grandkids coming?" Zoey asked, sitting next to my grandmother, who lit up at the question.
"The rest of the boys are coming today and tomorrow. I don't know why you all insisted on coming separately. I'm perfectly capable of talking to everyone at once."
"Yes, but too much noise and hustle and bustle can induce headaches, remember?" Grandfather said. He sounded genuinely concerned. Could be the humor he’d shown us earlier had simply been to cover up the fact that he was worried. Damn it, why didn't I see through it?
"I remember," my grandmother said, but she didn't fight him further, which was a sign that she agreed with him.
"Do you plan on maybe going on a vacation or something?" Zoey asked. "Some fresh air would do you good, but I don't know what your restrictions are on traveling."
"The doctor actually mentioned that it wouldn't be a bad idea,” Grandfather said.
“I was toying with the idea of asking Jake if he'd mind us going to Martha's Vineyard,” Grandmother added. “But in a few months. I’m not up for it right now.”
"He's got a vacation apartment or something there?" Zoey asked.
"He's got a beautiful house. It's quiet, and the journey isn't very difficult," I replied, already liking the idea. When she was at home, Grandmother seemed possessed by the need to do something. Maybe a getaway would relax her.
"I'm sure Jake wouldn't have anything against it," I said. "I must say, Grandmother, I'm proud of you. You're taking this more seriously than I thought."
"Of course. I want to get better fast. If not, who's going to matchmake the rest of your brothers?"
Zoey gasped and covered her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry. That was such an inappropriate reaction. I was just…"
"Shocked?" I finished for her.
"Yeah."
Grandmother waved her hand. "These youngsters don't know what’s good for them. They'll see things differently once they're my age. Looking back, you'll be able to realize that having someone to share the joys and sorrows is the most beautiful part of life."
Before I met Zoey, I would have discarded Grandmother's affirmation as nostalgic and wishful thinking. I wouldn't have taken her seriously. Yet now, I knew 100 percent that she was right. I couldn’t imagine my life without Zoey in it.
"Jeannie, not even a health scare can keep you away from matchmaking." Zoey sounded a bit nervous.
"Oh, honey, it's what keeps me going. Sometimes in the morning, I get up and think, 'Well, Jeannie, you've now lived almost a century. What's going to be different about today?' Then I realize I still have four grandsons to matchmake, and I get to work.”
"Jeannie, honestly," Grandfather said.
"There's no use berating her," I informed him.
Grandmother whistled. "See? Even Colton learned that lesson faster than you did."
Usually, I was all for curbing Grandmother's enthusiasm.
But I had to admit, she wasn't exactly meddling.
She simply saw things differently. She'd known Zoey for a hot minute before realizing she was just what I needed.
I was confident enough in my manhood to admit that if Grandmother hadn't pointed it out, it would have taken me a long time to realize it.
Grandmother yawned.
"Time for Zoey and me to go," I said.
"I agree," Zoey added, getting off the couch.
Grandmother made an attempt to get up too.
"No, no, no. It’s not necessary," Zoey told her. "Abe will see us out."
"Exactly. Woman, stay put. You've been on your feet enough today." He sounded stricter than I was used to hearing him with Grandmother, but it seemed to do the trick. She smiled and waved at us.
"I'm very glad you two stopped by," Grandmother said.
Zoey grinned. "I’m glad you’re feeling better, Jeannie."
"Have a good day, Grandmother," I said, bending down to kiss her cheek before we walked out of the living room.
Once in the hall, I turned to Grandfather. "Listen, that cleaning service you had when you were sick—"
"I'm working on it," Grandfather said abruptly, his voice low. "I'm taking baby steps."
"Abe, don't go around bad-mouthing me," Grandmother called from the living room.
"Hell," Grandfather exclaimed. "That's not what I'm doing," he called back to her.
"I heard something about a cleaning company!"
"We're all on Grandfather's side," I said loudly.
"Don't you play games. I know all of them, okay? I invented some of my own too."
Damn. I'd praised her too quickly. She was far more stubborn than I thought.
"Listen. I've got a plan," Grandfather said. "But you stay out of it.”
"I will," I assured him.
"I know how to get Jeannie to agree with me, but she needs time to do that. Hammering on a point usually has the opposite effect."
"I'm starting to learn that," Zoey murmured.
"What are you all still gossiping about?" Grandmother asked.
Grandfather walked backward, pointing at the door.
Zoey was silent as we stepped out of the house.
"What are you thinking?" I asked her.
"That you're all very endearing. How you make plans and look after each other."
"But you're used to that with your brothers."
"It's a bit different. This is intergenerational. Since my parents are always on the road, I don't get a chance to look out for them."
"And they don't get the chance to dote on you," I added.
She shrugged, but her eyes were vulnerable. "That's fine. I miss them a lot, but I think it's also what made me so independent, you know? Everything I ever experienced made me who I am today." She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's perfectly all right to admit that you want things."
She narrowed her eyes as we leaned against the car. "But wouldn’t that mean I'm ungrateful or unhappy with my parents and my upbringing? Because that is not true.”
I considered this. "I think several things can be simultaneously true. That you had a great childhood, but you also wouldn't have minded being spoiled a bit."
"Yeah, that's the right word. I don't really think I realized that until now. I don't want to sound whiny."
"You don't. I want to know everything that's going on inside here." I tapped her temple. "And here." I tapped her heart.
She swallowed hard. “Thanks!” Then the corners of her mouth twitched. “But keep all those swoony things to yourself for now or I won’t be able to focus at the office.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.”
“Oh, yes it does. Because I have a call with my boss in an hour, and I’m supposed to report on… you.”
“Mmm, and what are you going to tell him, exactly?”
“That we’re making progress. That covers everything, huh?” She grinned.
I leaned over, biting her neck.
“Not even close.”