Chapter 13
As soon as Blake opened his eyes Saturday morning, he thought about Vi’s parting words the night before. You flit from one woman to another, and I refuse to be one of them. Not again. She made him sound like a real jerk who dated women solely to get them into bed. He liked sex but wasn’t like that and never had been. What made her think he was?
From what she hinted at, he figured some creep had treated her that way. Not him, ever. He needed to set her straight and would when they met up later in the day.
When he was almost at the 709, he phoned Grandpop and let him know he was coming.
His grandfather answered in his usual terse voice. “Blake.”
Not wanting the man to tell him not to come, he kept the call short. “I’m on my way to visit and will be at your place in five.”
After he parked and signed in, he rode the elevator up, then knocked at the door.
“Come in,” Grandpop said. He was seated in his La-Z-Boy facing the TV with a scowl on his face. Not in a good mood, then. The bruise on his cheek looked almost as nasty as it had the day after the accident, and he was still a little pale. Pain was a real mood downer.
Wanting to cheer him up, Blake showed him a bag. “I brought you a treat. Lox, bagels and cream cheese, a favorite of yours. There are two here, one for today and another for tomorrow.”
The old eyes lit up and an almost-smile chased away the scowl. The remote was on a TV tray in front of him, and he shut off the tube. “How did you know I haven’t eaten?”
“It’s early yet, and you don’t keep the morning hours you used to. I’ll put the extra bagel in the fridge and get you a plate and something to drink. Water okay?”
The man nodded. “You’ll find a carton of orange juice on the top shelf of the fridge. Bring that, too.”
After arranging everything on the TV tray, Blake sat down on the nearby sofa while his grandfather ate. “That’s one heck of a bruise on your cheek, but you’re not as pale as you were when I took you to the doctor last week,” he said. “How’s the rib?”
“You ask me that every time you call. Same as I told you on the phone yesterday. I still hurt when I move around, but I’ll get better and the rib should stop bothering me in three to four weeks. What brings you here?”
“I haven’t seen you since I took you to the doctor almost a week ago and wanted to visit.”
“If you’d called ahead, I’d have said don’t bother and saved you the trip. You’re busy getting that new store ready to go, and this is a waste of your time. I’m not in the best mood.”
No kidding. “You’re welcome, Grandpop. Glad you appreciate the fact that I drove out of my way to bring you the lox and bagel.”
“Thanks,” came the grudging reply. “Why are you really here?”
Grouchy or not, he was too perceptive for his own good. “Since you asked, I want to know what’s going on with you and Caroline. You haven’t mentioned her.”
Grandpop’s expression soured even more. “You haven’t asked. It’s obvious you disapprove of our relationship.”
“I like Caroline,” Blake replied. He’d like her even better if she and his grandfather weren’t talking marriage. “I’m asking now.”
“She’s still mad at me.’
The other reason beside pain making him out of sorts. “After a whole week? That’s not good.”
“Think I don’t know that?”
“What did she say when you talked to her about it?”
“I haven’t.”
“Don’t you think it’s time you did?”
“I don’t know, all right? Now, let me eat in peace. And don’t sit here staring at me. The coffee maker’s set up. Why don’t you make some for both of us.”
Blake stood and started the brewing, then returned to the sofa. When most of the bagel had disappeared some minutes later, he cleared away the dishes and loaded them in the dishwasher. “Have you changed your mind about Caroline?” he asked as he filled two mugs.
“What kind of question is that? Quit talking and bring me that coffee.”
Half wishing he’d stayed away and stifling the urge to lose his cool, Blake set the drink on the tray and brought his to the sofa. “Do you still care about Caroline?”
“’Course I do!” Grandpop winced. “Hurts when I yell.”
“I’ll bet. Have you considered apologizing to her?”
“For wanting to surprise her with a generous wedding gift most women would happily accept? She ought to be apologizing to me.” He raised his chin in stubborn defiance, yet for all his bravado, he looked old and defeated.
As much as Blake wanted his grandfather and Caroline to at least back away from the marriage idea, he hated seeing him like this. For a man who’d been married for decades, he didn’t seem to know much about women. “I’m no expert, but if I liked a woman as much as you like Caroline and wanted to right a wrong, I’d ease up on the stubbornness. A heartfelt apology can go a long way to heal the problems between you.”
“I’m not stubborn, and I didn’t do anything wrong,” Grandpop insisted, proving exactly how stubborn he was. “How was I to know she’d get mad about her present?”
“Hey, you found out she doesn’t like that kind of surprise. Also, she wants to pay her own way. In my book, that’s admirable. Maybe you should’ve listened to her.”
“Stop lecturing me, boy. What the hell am I to do?”
Blake had already shared his opinion, but he repeated it. “If I were in your shoes, I’d give in and apologize. But if you believe she’s in the wrong and you’re in the right, then I don’t see a way to fix this.”
Grandpop clamped his lips, picked up the remote and turned the TV back on, effectively dismissing the conversation and Blake. His way of saying he wanted to be alone and think things out.
“Time for me to go—I have a meeting,” Blake said and stood. “See you again soon, Grandpop.”
Blake’s textarrived when Vi was pulling into the 709. Meeting with Grandpop didn’t go well. Text or call after you see Caroline.
Big help that was. When she signed in, she noted he’d left ten minutes earlier.
She called Gran with a quick, “Surprise! I’m on my way up to see you.” Quickly disconnecting, she headed up the elevator.
“Come in,” Gran called out when she knocked at the door. She was sitting on the couch with the Port Simms Weekly paper and greeted Vi with a touch of irritation. “You’re lucky I was here. What if I’d been out and missed you?” She patted the seat beside her. “Sit.”
“Sorry, Gran. I should’ve called earlier.” Would’ve, if she’d thought the woman wouldn’t try to put her off. She squinted at her. “Have you lost weight?”
“I don’t know. Why, do I look thinner?”
“Yes. Is something wrong with the food here?”
Gran shook her head. “I don’t have much appetite.”
Possible reasons for that skittered through Vi’s mind. Diabetes, maybe cancer, or any number of other illnesses. “I don’t like that, Gran.”
“Whatever you’re worried about, stop. I have plenty of padding. For your information, I had an early lunch today, and I ate very well.” Gran yawned. “What time does Rose get home?”
“Tonight. I don’t know exactly when. I’m sure she’ll be in touch tomorrow. Who’d you have lunch with?” Vi asked, wondering if Malcom felt well enough to sit in the dining room. Gran hadn’t said, and neither had the text from Blake.
“Two of my new friends, Suzanne and Karen. They’re easy to talk to and make me laugh. You’d like them. I’ll introduce you sometime.”
Not a word about Malcom. Hmm…
Gran eyed the box Vi had brought from Melissa Ann’s Bakery. “What’s in there?”
“Two banana cinnamon muffins with chocolate chips. I hope you still have room for one.”
“You know me better than that. Hand over that box. I’ll get plates and napkins for both of us.”
She felt well enough to eat her treat, a good sign. “None for me, Gran. I had a croissant earlier. These are for you.”
Her grandma took a generous bite. “This is so good. Thanks, Vi. You’ve always been a thoughtful girl—er woman.”
Another yawn followed. Come to think of it, she looked tired as well as thinner. Fatigue and the circles under her eyes added years to her. Vi was concerned. “Are you taking anything for the pain, Gran?”
“Don’t need to. I feel pretty good. My bruise is ugly, but it should begin to fade soon. I told you that when you phoned yesterday. Don’t you remember?”
“Of course, but I couldn’t see you then. It’s obvious you’re worn out. What’s keeping you up at night? Are you still traumatized about the car accident?”
Emotions Vi couldn’t read flitted across the weathered face. “The accident has nothing to do with it.” Gran set the muffin aside. “I’m too mad to sleep or eat.”
“Oh?” Vi asked, guessing things were still awry with Malcom. “What’s bothering you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Glancing away, Gran sniffed and dabbed her eyes with her napkin.
Was she tearing up? Vi had only seen her cry once, shortly after Gramps had passed away years earlier. “Talk to me, Gran.”
Her face still averted, she shook her head. The misery likely had to do with Malcom. It seemed they were still mad at each other. Vi assumed Blake had met with the same headstrong refusal from his grandfather to discuss the problem. Knowing she couldn’t force the issue, she changed the subject. “You have two weeks left to decide about the 709. Are you planning to stay, and if not, where do you want to live? Carmie can help us find a nice apartment for you. But if you’re positive about staying here, will it be in this unit, or are you and Malcom going to share a place?”
At last, her grandma turned toward her. The sorrowful expression on her face made Vi’s chest ache.
“I have no idea what Malcom wants. He certainly hasn’t apologized for lying to me about paying my share of the down payment on the new unit. Honesty is very important to me. I don’t know if I can forgive him for that.” She rested her head in her hands and sniffled loudly.
“Gran, are you all right?”
“How could I be? I love him and miss him so much. Does that make me a fool?”
Vi was confused. “You two haven’t spoken?”
“Not since the day after the accident. We compared notes on our doctor’s appointments, and that was it.”
“Why aren’t you talking?”
“That happened when I let him know I expected an apology. He said I should apologize to him instead of getting angry. The only reason he didn’t shout at me was because yelling hurts his rib. Oh, that man!”
As mad as Gran was, tears continued to stream down her face. Vi tried to squeeze her hand, but was rebuffed. “What are you going to do?”
Looking sad, heartbroken and stubborn all at once, Gran crossed her arms. “Nothing. He was in the wrong—he should apologize.”
“What if he doesn’t?” Vi asked in a soft voice.
“It’s his loss.”
Gran blew her nose and seemed so forlorn that Vi half-wished the couple would make up. “Maybe it’s time to move into an apartment.”
“I like living here too much to let him chase me out.”
“But with Malcom just down the hall, you’re bound to run into each other either up here or downstairs during cocktail hour or in the dining room. It’ll be awkward and uncomfortable.”
“I’m not a child, Vi. I know how to be civil. I’ll get used to it.”
“Then you’re staying right here, in this unit?”
“That’s right. The insurance check hasn’t arrived yet. I expected it sometime this past week, but I’m sure it’ll be here any day now. I’ll check with the insurance company Monday morning.”
Did Malcom know about this? Did he even care? Vi was anxious to talk to Blake and compare notes. Yet she had to offer. “Do you want me to sit with you for a while?”
Gran shook her head. “I’m blue, but I’m all right.”