“Oh yes…” Nana laughed. I could practically see her going through the memories of my childhood, of me getting lost in my little imaginary worlds, spinning elaborate stories, always a little too detached from reality.
“Well… for a few years now, I keep…” I paused. This was so much harder to explain than I thought it would be. “I keep coming back to this same daydream.”
There. I said it.
Nana leaned in with an encouraging look, waiting for me to continue.
“In this… dream…” I hesitated, bracing myself for how insane it was going to sound. “I’m married to Chris.” The words left my lips, and for a second, I wanted to crawl under the table.
“The artist we were supposed to meet today?”
Artist. I loved her so much. She was too pure for this world, and here I was, dumping my delusions on her over lunch. How disappointing it must be to have a lunatic for a granddaughter.
“Yes,” I admitted with a nod, still barely able to believe I was actually saying this out loud. “I know it’s weird, but…”
“Nonsense.” She cut me off. I blinked at her, caught off guard by her response. “Your generation stopped believing in magic,” she continued, waving a hand as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. “In the power of manifestation. If you ask the Universe, it shall give it to you, my girl.”
I felt a strange mix of relief and frustration bubbling up inside.
“That’s not the weird part, Nana…” I couldn’t stop now. I needed someone to hear this. Someone to witness the surreal confusion that had completely taken over my life. “He’s been dreaming about me too…” The words slipped out before I could overthink them. My voice faltered as I braced myself for the inevitable shock on her face. But instead of looking stunned, Nana’s expression shifted into something… blissful. She smiled.
Smiled.
As if this was the most normal thing she’d ever heard.
I blinked, trying to process her reaction—or lack of one. She was a calm person, sure, but this was another level. Before I could figure out what was going on in her head, the waitress interrupted, pulling me back.
“Can I get you anything, sweetheart?” she asked. Her green eyes sparkled as she waited for my reply.
Still feeling off-balance, I glanced down at the menu, even though I didn’t need to.
“Sure… yeah… I’ll have my usual, Kat.” I’d been coming here for years, and I always ordered the same thing. I didn’t even know why Kat bothered asking. But she did. Every time. And every time, I ordered the same damn thing. A creature of habit, through and through.
I paused and turned to Nana, waiting for her to chime in.
“I have an upset tummy today, dear. You go ahead and eat,” she said.
“Okay… that’ll be all, thanks!” I said, handing the menu back to Kat.
“Perfect. I’ll be right back,” she replied with a smile before heading off.
I looked back at Nana, scanning her face for any worrying clue that it might’ve been more than just a stomach ache, wondering if maybe we should cut this early.
“Are you okay, Nana? Do you need to go home?” I asked.
“I’m okay, my darling,” she said with her usual calm, giving me that soft smile of hers. “I don’t have the same appetite. It happens with age…”
I frowned. Even minor discomfort made me uneasy whenit came to her. I hated the thought of her feeling off, no matter how much she insisted she was fine. She reached across the table and gently patted my hand. “Well, and about your dream husband… I guess there’s no bigger sign that you should marry him in real life, too, then. Right?” Her voice was so casual, as if she were discussing the weather or her favorite tea.
“Nana…” I stared at her, completely floored. How could she say that so calmly? I wasn’t sure if I was more shocked by her lack of concern or her unhinged advice. Before I could figure out how to respond, my phone rang.
“Shit!” I muttered, glancing at the screen. “It’s the office. I have to go back.” I gathered my things in a rush, my mind already flipping back into work mode. “I’ll get them to deliver my lunch to the office. Come on, I’ll walk you home.” I said, already standing.
“No, dear, you don’t need to walk me home.”
“Are you sure?” I didn’t want her wandering alone if she wasn’t feeling 100%. But she looked fine—rosy cheeks, steady hands, a genuine smile.
“Absolutely!” she said, all confidence.
