Chapter Five
GABE
On Saturday morning, I went by my grandparents' house. I was picking up Grandmother to drive her to the bridge session.
Despite our conversation at dinner the previous week, she stuck to her guns when she had an idea.
I was thirty-one and in charge of my life, but I didn't mind Grandmother’s inquisitions, as they gave me a chance to catch up with her and find out how she was really doing.
When all of us were together, she put up a brave front, making it difficult to know if everything was okay.
She especially didn't like to admit to not feeling well in front of Grandfather.
I sent her a text to let her know I was here and waited for her on the front porch.
She came out a few minutes later. "Darling, you’re early. Do you want to come in and drink a coffee?"
"No thanks, Grandmother. Are you ready to go? We can drop by my new house first. I’d like to show it to you.”
"What a wonderful idea. I've been curious to see it.” I’d shown her pictures, but she hadn't been there. “Let’s go.”
I took her arm, and we walked together to the car. I opened the door for her and had to actually assist her in because it was a bit too high for her. After making sure she was situated, I went around the front and climbed into the driver's seat.
"So, tell me a bit about your house," Grandmother said as I pulled onto the street. "Can we go inside?"
"No. The workmen leave too much stuff lying around, so we’ll see it from outside.”
“I couldn't believe it when you said you’re buying that big house for yourself.”
I shrugged. “Why not? It's perfect. It’s got plenty of space.”
Grandmother chuckled, “It's definitely a sign.”
"Of what?" I asked, bewildered.
“Oh, don’t mind me.”
This was typical for Grandmother. I thought that if I got her alone, I could check out how she was, but she’d already changed it up.
But I was determined to find out if she'd been having any more dizzy spells. She’d scared us all a few months ago with a trip to the hospital because she'd been severely dehydrated.
"How are you feeling lately?" I asked her.
"I'm good, I'm good. No more headaches or dizzy spells. I’m religiously using that drinking bottle that Zoey gave me. And your grandfather is on my case all the time too.”
“Good for him, and for Zoey.” Colton’s fiancée bought grandmother a water bottle that kept track of how much she drank. I was very grateful to her. If any of us boys would have given her that, Grandmother would have shut us down. But she didn't mind it coming from Zoey.
We arrived in front of the house twenty minutes later. I helped Grandmother out of the car, and we walked around the yard, looking at the house from all angles. There were three construction workers here today doing some of the detailing on the windows.
"This is a thing of beauty," she exclaimed.
"Thanks, Grandmother. I agree. I’ll go talk to Mateo.” He was overseeing everything. “Be careful where you step.”
"You don't have to baby me,” she said in a belligerent voice.
I absolutely had to, but I chose my battles.
I kept an eye on Grandmother while I spoke to the head of the construction site. They'd found some issues in the basement that required more work than we anticipated.
“Just do what you have to do, okay?” I told him.
Mateo nodded. “Sure. But we hit a roadblock, so we'll have to pause the work until we get all the materials we need.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Right, then we'll pause it.”
When I first started this project, I was annoyed whenever something like this came up, but now I was just rolling with the punches.
These were the risks of building on the bones of an old house.
And since I was living nearby, I didn't mind.
It didn't matter if I had to wait a few more months.
The lease on the current house was for one year.
I aimed to move in six months, but I was adaptable.
Once we agreed that the crew should focus their efforts on another part of the project until the materials came, I got Grandmother back into the car. I started to drive away, then stopped in front of my rental. Diane had arrived earlier than we'd agreed.
"What's happening over there?" she asked.
"Ah, that is my new neighbor," I said.
She turned to face me. “You didn't tell me the old one was moving out.”
“He wanted to move in with his girlfriend, but the landlady would only let him out of the lease if he found a replacement. And I found one for him.”
“Oh, that’s nice, dear. So who is it?”
“It's the sister of one of my bartenders.”
Grandmother beamed. "Lovely. I'd like to meet her."
I frowned. "Why?"
“Indulge your old grandmother, would you?”
“Won't you be late for bridge?”
She waved her hand. “It's still early. Besides, there are enough of us old hags that they can start a game without me.”
“All right, then, let's go.”
I got out first, then opened the door for Grandmother and helped her out of the car.
"Good morning, Diane!" I greeted. She was leaning over the trunk of a battered old Honda.
She straightened up, turning around. "Gabe, hi." Then her eyes fell on Grandmother. "Hello, I'm Diane."
"I'm Jeannie Whitley, Gabe's grandmother. He tells me you're his new neighbor."
Diane nodded. " Yes, and I'm super happy this worked out. I'm very lucky that my sister knew Gabe. Anyway, I'm not going to keep you. I just want to bring all this stuff up."
"Gabe, you help the young lady. She doesn't have to carry it all by herself."
I cocked a brow. "Grandmother."
Diane smiled. "Gabe did offer to help, but I showed up earlier than planned.
I thought it would be best to just get started.
" She looked like she was about to burst with happiness.
"I already have a buyer for my car. I can't believe it. Things are finally starting to look up! But I need to get all the boxes out first.”
I pointed at the one labeled Books. "That’s got to be heavy. I'll help you with it."
"You know what?" Grandmother said. "Why don't you stay at home and help Diane unload? I can get a cab to my friend's house. It’s our bridge meeting today,” she informed Diane.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "You said you wanted me to drive you there."
She waved her hand. "There's no need. If you order an Uber, then you can also follow the trip."
Grandmother knew me well. I disliked calling cabs for her, but Uber was different because I could see where she was on the app.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Of course. I'm not a hundred yet. I like to be independent."
Something was off. She'd been dead set on introducing me to her friend's granddaughter, and I was getting downright suspicious.
Why had she changed her mind? Then again, I didn't need to look a gift horse in the mouth.
I was glad I didn't have to pretend to be excited about being introduced to yet another of her friends' granddaughters.
Not that I really minded. Even though grandmother could be a bit meddling, I really didn't mind, as she’d done so much for me and my brothers.
But I was glad that I was off the hook today.
I ordered her a luxury version of Uber, and it arrived right away.
"You two have fun," she told me and Diane as I helped her get into the car.
After she left, I turned to Diane. She had her hair in a tight bun at the base of her neck. A single curly strand came out over her right ear, and she kept pushing it back.
Fuck, she's sexy.
"Your grandmother is very thoughtful. Does she have a bridge session with friends every weekend?" Diane asked.
"No, just from time to time. Now, put me to work."
"If you insist."
I grinned. "I do."
“The boxes labeled Books are the heaviest.”
“Got it.”
She took a suitcase, and I grabbed two of the boxes labeled Books, putting them one atop the other.
She stared at me, mouth agape. "You're strong."
"They don't weigh that much. I'm good. Lead the way."
It was a big mistake to ask her to walk in front of me. I couldn't take my eyes off her ass; she was wearing shorts again, and since she was a few steps higher on the staircase than me, I had a great view. I forced my gaze away, looking down at the stairs to the side.
"Why are you selling your car?" I asked, trying to get my mind off how hot she was.
"This old thing barely moves. I'm not getting a lot of money for it, but I don't want to be stuck making car payments, especially since I'll be living here. I checked and the public transportation in this neighborhood is great."
"There's no subway around here," I countered.
"It’s about fifteen minutes away. The walk will do me good. I typically only do tours in the city center, and the connections are great. Anyway, once I'm back on my feet, I'll consider buying another car."
I didn't say anything, just kept focusing on my steps and not looking at that gorgeous ass, no matter how lusciously it was displayed in front of me.
Once we got upstairs, she said, "Just stack everything there in the corner."
I looked around, taking it all in. "This is in better shape than the last time I was up here. Did he clean up after himself?" I asked.
She smiled sheepishly. "No. Since you gave Celia the key, I came right after he left and did a deep clean."
"I didn't know that."
"Well, you were at the office." She avoided my gaze.
She'd purposefully scheduled her visits here when I wasn't home? What was I missing? Did my presence make her uncomfortable? That was the last thing I wanted.
"Ready to go down again?" she asked.
"At your service."
A smile played on her lips. "Really?"
"Oh yeah. Just put me to work."
"If you don't mind, I am more than happy to use your muscles." She sucked in her breath and again pushed that one strand behind her ear. "I didn't mean that. That's to say… I wasn’t hitting on you."
I burst out laughing. "I didn't think you were, but it's interesting that your mind went there."
She turned beet red instantly. I'd never seen anyone blush like this in my whole life. She was utterly beautiful.
"Let's move, then," I said.