Grandma Carol tsked at her. “Oh, honey, I know I raised you better than to be so dense.”
Destiny gaped at her in shock. Grandma would be honest sometimes, but never so brutal. “Grandma, I am not dense.” She deciphered codes for the government. That wasn’t just a job anyone could do.
“When it comes to that boy, you are,” she said wagging her finger at her. “You are the most intelligent woman, but around him you are as blind as a mole.”
“Isn’t the saying blind as a bat?”
“Normally, but bats have much better vision than you. Moles aren’t as good so that’s the analogy I’m using.”
Whatever. She wasn’t going to argue with her grandma about analogies. “So why do you think I’m blind?”
“Because he is so in love with you, only a blind person would miss it.”
Destiny’s heart skipped a beat. Mike loved her? No, Grandma had to be wrong. “He cares about me sure, but we’re just friends.”
“And you’re in love with him. I’ve known since the beginning. The only people who don’t know seem to be you two. I’m tired of waiting for the two of you to realize it. I’m not getting any younger and I want great-grand kids.” She hmphed as if Destiny were denying her something.
If the situation weren’t so serious, Destiny might find her grandmother’s statement funny. “Grandma, you’re confused.” Destiny was afraid to hope. What if Grandma were wrong and Mike only thought of her as a friend?
“Stubborn,” Grandma tsked, shaking her head sadly. “I only have myself to blame. You’ll eventually see.”
Grandma sounded so sure. Instead of guessing, she should find out from Mike. Poor Mike, what he must think of her family now. Her self-centered mother, and Grandma announcing they are in a relationship. She couldn’t blame him if he decided to take off and never look back.
“And you’re meddling,” Destiny said more to herself. “This isn’t a boardroom where you can just tell people what to do and things happen.”
Grandma pulled some of the pillows out from behind her. Destiny rose to help her and get Grandma settled. Destiny thought Grandma saying she’d take a nap was a ploy to get rid of Mom, but now she could see the fatigue in her eyes. “You’ll thank me for my meddling when all is said and done,” she smiled knowingly, even as her eyes started to droop.
Doubtful.
Mike probably already made his escape when she asked him to wait out in the hall.
“I’ll be back when it’s time to leave, Grandma.” Destiny kissed her on the forehead and stepped out of the room, shocked to see Mike leaning against the wall next to the door.
“You waited,” she blurted out and almost rolled her eyes at her stupidity of stating the obvious.
“You asked me to.”
“Look, I’m sorry about Grandma and saying we’re engaged. I don’t know where she got that idea,” she started rambling.
“I have to admit I wasn’t expecting it,” he said, chuckling. She didn’t know how he could be so calm talking about something so serious.
“I’ll set my mom straight tonight at dinner.” She really wasn’t looking forward to it. Mom wouldn’t beat around the bush and would demand money from Grandma. Once she had it, she’d be on the next plane out. If Mike was there, she was sure there would be some awkward questions.
“You mean about us?”
That brought her up short. “You don’t really want to come, do you?” She didn’t even want to go.
“Not necessarily, your mother—” his voice trailed off and she winced. Yeah, her mom.
“Mom is hard to describe. She comes and goes as she pleases. I called her a few times to tell her Grandma was in the hospital, but I never heard back from her. I’m sorry for the way she treated you.”
“You really need to stop apologizing for others.”
“I feel it’s necessary. My family can be blunt.” And her mother insensitive. Grandma had spoiled her rotten, never denying her anything. It hadn’t been much different with her, but Destiny didn’t take advantage of her privileges. She preferred to make her own way in the world, much how Grandma did.
“I’m not so sensitive. I know I’m nothing like that boyfriend of hers and I’m okay with that.”
No, he was big and strong. Ten times the man any of her mom’s boyfriends had been. Mike was so good to her. Almost too good. A true friend.
