Click by Phoebe Sweet

Author:Phoebe Sweet [Sweet, Phoebe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2020-03-09T16:00:00+00:00

Six

Chapter 6

We walked with our dogs to a simple brick house not far from the boardwalk.

“This is where Grams lives. I’d like you to meet her.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’ve never brought anyone home to meet her.”

“Ever?”

“Ever. She’s going to be surprised, that’s for sure.”

He walked up and knocked on the door. Then he knocked again, a few more times.

“She can’t hear so well. I hear the tv, though, so I know she’s in there.”

After what seemed like an eternity, the door cracked a tiny bit.

“Yes?”

“Grams, it’s me - Nick.”

She threw the door open. “Nick! What a surprise.”

“Really Grams? I come by every weekend. Otherwise I’d starve to death.”

She was a plump woman with kind eyes. Her hair was white and curly, and she had Nick’s smile.

“Come in, come in. And who is your friend, Nick? You never bring any girls here.” She turned to me, taking my arm and talking to me as though it were confidential: “I’ve been trying to find a nice girl for Nick for years. One just like you, I think.” She smiled a knowing smile at me, the way only 90-something year old grandmothers can.

“Now come in here and get something to eat.”

Nick had planned for us to go to L’Atelier de Jean Dubois for dinner. But instead I indicated to him that I’d prefer to eat with his grandmother. She was fascinating, and I was already mesmerized by her stories of kissing soldiers as a teenager in Times Square when they returned from World War II. Nick squeezed my hand under the table. Sitting in her modest home on a sunny afternoon as the sun set, I knew I was in the right place. This was it for me.

At the end of the night, she sent us home with leftovers and kissed us good-bye.

“I have a feeling we’ll meet again, dear Ashlynn.”

“I hope so, Mrs. Godfrey.”

“Oh please, call me Grams.”

Nick grinned widely when she said this. I had Grams’ stamp of approval - on our first date.

Nothing like this had ever happened to me before.

Gizmo and Cupcake were getting tired. I knew Nick had to get ready for his trip the next day. We walked back along the boardwalk toward his car.

“Listen, Ash, it means a lot that you came on this little adventure with me today. And even learned to like Coney Island.”

“I love it. And I love your grandmother. She’s amazing.”

“And I love you,” he said, looking at me for my reaction.

I was saying “love” casually. I wasn’t expecting this.

“Wow, Nick. I, uh, I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything at all. Tell me what you decide when I get back from my tour.”

I didn’t know why I found it hard to produce those words. I did love him. I guess I had been in love with him for a while, in fact. But I couldn’t say it yet.

“I just…”

“There’s no pressure, Ash. Take your time. I know the day has probably been overwhelming, and it’s sudden. Just rest assured that I’m crazy about you.

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