I nodded and leaned my head onto his chest. “Did you knowRoman Holidaywas Audrey Hepburn’s first major role? It was also the first rom-com to win an Academy Award for Best Story.”
Grant chuckled behind me, then his lips pressed against my hair and he rested his jaw on top of my head. He was asleep within fifteen minutes.
Over the next week,there were more movies, talks of our families, hopes we had for the future, and lots of kissing.
Friday after I closed up The Bees Knees, I walked to my car. Grant was supposed to have the movie for the event next Wednesday. Mr. Cole was putting more pressure on him. I wasn’t sure itwas in his job description, but he just said that what Mr. Cole wanted, he got.
I climbed into my yellow Bug and pulled out of the parking garage. I headed out to Mom’s. She needed some help with some spring cleanup. This week the garbage trucks would take bigger items for free, and she asked me to come help.
I knocked on the door before I pushed it open. “Hey Mom, it’s me.”
Spike hissed and ran toward the laundry room. I guess he never forgave me for the spray paint or subsequent enforced washing. I walked into the kitchen of my childhood and memories rushed at me: making a swing out of the cabinet handles, a small wooden table that I scratched my name into one day when I was mad, and the burn mark on the countertop from the time I didn’t think I needed a hot pad.
“In the living room,” Mom called. I walked past the wall plastered with school pictures and art projects through the years. Stepping through this hall felt like falling back in time. Back to when the house was full of loud voices. The worn brown carpet showed years of coming and going.
But now, it was just Mom’s footsteps in this big house.
“Hey, Mom.” I found her in the living room going through boxes of food magazines, withFiddler on the Roofplaying on the TV in the background. She was picking up each magazine, looking through, and ripping out pages of recipes I knew she would never make. “What can I help with?”
She patted the faded blue couch cushion beside her. “Want to help me rip out recipes?”
“I thought you said you needed me to help?”
She patted the couch harder; I chuckled and sat. She handed me a stack of twenty years of magazines. I flipped open the first one stuffed with Easter recipes. “Mom, there is a recipe on almost every page.”
“After you rip them out, put them in the piles.” She pointed atthe table. “Main course,” she moved her hand down the line, “sides, and then desserts.”
I wanted to argue it wasn’t worth her time with the internet, but I also didn’t want to fight tonight. So I sat and ripped page after page, listening to Reb Tevye.
“So, how are things going with Grant?”
“You could have called and asked.” I bumped into her with my shoulder.
“I’m your mother. I shouldn’t have to call.” Her eyes scrunched. “Besides, I have fifteen years of magazines to go through, and you scammed me.”
Yep. I think she would be able to use that one for years still and I would do whatever she asked. If this wasn’t the definition of cruel and unusual punishment, I did not know what was.
“I think things are going well with Grant.” I turned the page. “He has been amazing, actually.” I tried to contain the smile begging to be released. “I’m still a little worried it can’t last, though.”
Mom smiled. “That’s because you are like me.” She raised her brows. “Once you decide something, it takes a whole lot to change your mind.”
I nodded. That did fit us both to a T. I sighed and ripped out an apple stuffing recipe. “He is super sweet.” I nodded to the TV. “Even if he hatedFiddlerwhen he was younger.”
Mom chuckled. “Even you hatedFiddler. It’s one that gets better with age.” She picked up another magazine. “So, have you kissed?”
“Mom!” I scoffed. “We don’t need to go over all the details.”
She clapped and squealed. “Youhavekissed.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, you win. Yes. I like him.” I sighed and thought of how he made my heart race. “I like him a lot.”
Mom gestured for me to keep talking.
“I feel like I can talk to him forever, and time stands still and goes quickly at the same time. It seems crazy. I have only beenspending time with him for two weeks. He doesn’t belittle me or seem annoyed by my fashion sense. He watches my movies and helped me at The Bees Knees the other day when I needed some things moved around. But it’s more than that. I like that he lets me in, too. He isn’t wrapped up in others’ opinions, talks to me for an hour about some new workout equipment, and tells me about work. It feels real.”
“Sounds like someone is in love.” Mom raised her brows.
My hands froze mid rip.
