Tend To My Heart

49

Everyone is suddenly startled when the front door swings open and Grandma walks in with a huff of air and multiple bags in her hands.

"Grandma?" Hayden and I say in unison.

"You thought you'd have a family dinner with your grandfather where he was meeting your boyfriend and I wasn't going to be here? Do you people even know me at all?" She scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"Grandpa" I scold and he just shrugs.

"I love the woman, she knows of my whereabouts" he says.

Tristan doesn't hesitate to rush over and grab the bags from Grandma to set them on the counter.

"What is all that?" I ask with a laugh.

"I thought I'd stock your kitchen, it's been a while" she answers, waving a dismissing hand as she focuses all of her attention on Tristan.

My boyfriend approaches me, snakes an arm around my waist and holds his free hand out with that charming smile of his.

"Nice to finally meet you Mrs. Carter. I'm Tristan" he introduces all charming and whatnot and my heart is fluttering in my chest.

Grandma grins and smacks his hand away, yanking us both in a hug.

"Please, call me Helen" she beams.

When she releases us, she gets that fond look in her eyes when she looks at me and I nearly burst into tears.

I'm upset about Cooper, yes. But I'm so very happy with Tristan and I think my grandparents spot it immediately which makes me want to cry.

Grandma takes my hand and drags me away from Tristan, jumping right into the gossip because she's terribly nosey.

It's where I get it from, mom too.

"He's so cute, Vangie!" She whispers and digs through the bags she brought for a bottle of my favorite red wine. I grab two glasses and try to hide the blush in my cheeks as my grandmother continues to fuss over my boyfriend who's super chatty with Grandpa and helps Hayden whenever he asks a question.

"You look happy, Bub" grandma beams and kisses my cheeks.

"He has that affect on people" I shrug playfully.

"You look just like your mother" she suddenly says, a slight tremble in her voice.

"When she brought your father home the first time, she looked just like that. All wide eyed and constant smiles, it was disgusting, really" Grandma teases making my jaw drop as she pours our wine.

"I'm kidding" she laughs and then I join her.

"You deserve this, Evangeline" she says and that has my eyes get a little glossy because I don't think I've ever felt like I've deserved anything.

Which is shitty, I know, but it's true.

"Can I get you anything, Helen?" Tristan suddenly appears, giving me a look that asks me if I'm okay and man do I love him.

"Oh, you're good" she smirks at him earning a cheeky smile while I take a needed sip of my drink.

"I'm fine, we'll wait for that son and grandson of mine to get home before we have dinner, it smells delicious" she compliments, patting him on the shoulder and walking over to grandpa and Hayden with her wine glass in hand.