“Well, my bones can’t take it anymore. Did I tell you about what the Lesters’ did the other day?”
“Grandma, I actually need to talk to you about something.” If I didn’t stop her now, I’d have to hear about all the neighbors in her retirement community before I could get a word in.
“Oh, do you need money? I knew that shop wouldn’t make enough money.”
Rolling my eyes, I pushed her criticism to the side. “My shop is doing fine. We need to talk about Sawyer.”
“Oh, honey. Did that woman break up with him? The gemstone girl?”
“Pearl. And yes, she moved out of state.”
“He smothered her, too, didn’t he?”
“Grandma, he doesn’t smother his girlfriends. He just…gets really excited when he finds someone he likes.”
“That’s called smothering, dear.”
“Well, either way, we’re in the couch and boxers phase. I just shoved him in the shower, and I’m going to take him out tonight.”
She sighed heavily through the phone. “Those poor women. You know, you should put out a newsletter to the town every time someone breaks up with him. You know, I really don’t think it’s fair to them.”
“They’ll survive. I won’t if I have to deal with him for another weekend.”
“Well, just be kind to him. Remember that he’s more sensitive than you are.”
“That’s the problem,” I grumbled. “Do you know how hard it is to be positive when he’s like this?”
“I know, dear.”
“So…I was thinking…maybe it’s time for you to invite him to stay with you for a few weeks.”
I winced as silence filled the line.
“Well, if he doesn’t mind eating at four o’clock and going to bed at eight-thirty. You know, there’s no great nightlife around here.”
“He’s your grandson, and he’s hurting. What he needs is a change of scenery.”
“Well, I suppose I could talk with your grandfather about it, but honestly, maybe he needs me to come up for a visit instead.”
“No!” I shouted, immediately on the defensive. “I mean, uh…he just needs to get away from the reminders. And there are so many.”
“I know, I know. Fine. Talk to him and let me know the details.”
I dodged a bullet there. Grandma was good at a distance, but in person, she had a sharp tongue and even deadlier senses. If she came here, it would be like a dictator coming for a visit.
“And you’ll take him out to your old people functions?”
“They’re not old people functions!”
“They are, and if you took him out every night, it would really help to pull him out of his funk. You know he can’t stand playing Bingo.”
“Yes, yes. But I don’t have to like it.”
“No, but I’ll enjoy the reprieve from his moping.”
The door to the bathroom opened, so I quickly got off, tossing the phone on the table before he could see me conspiring to get rid of him.
“Feel better?”
