Page 98 of Kaine

Chapter Thirty-Six

HER

“You remember to FaceSnaptimeme, you hear?” my grandmother says, her voice muffled in my shoulder.

“Um, you mean Faceti-... never mind. Yes, I promise to call you, with my face and everything, Grammy. I love you so much,” I tell her, grabbing her hands tight in mine.

“Hey, does he have a grandfather?” she says, gesturing her head in Kaine’s direction.

“Why?” I ask, looking at her then at Grampy.

“Well, your grandfather’s not gettin’ any younger,” she grins.

“You hear that?” my grandfather tuts, his eyes laughing. “So, do you, sonny, have my replacement all lined up?”

I glance at Kaine and for the first time since we arrived, there’s a tension behind his eyes, and a muscle tightening along his jaw. I reach out and run a hand down his arm and he jumps, as if startled. “Grampy asked you a question, honey,” I nudge him.

“It’s okay, I’m sure you have other things on your mind, being a big shot billionaire,” Grampy teases Kaine.

“No, I’m so sorry, just a little tired. Your granddaughter here is a handful.”

“Yes, but it looks like you’ve got just the hands to handle her, sonny.” Grampy holds his hand out to Kaine, who adopts a look of mock horror. He doesn’t hold it for long though before breaking out into a grin and lets Grampy hug him again.

“You take care of her, okay?”

“Yes, sir. You have my word.”

I give them one last wave and run out to the car, not wanting to look back in case I can’t leave. I get in the car and roll the window down, blowing kisses as the car starts and drives away. The image of them under the porch light and setting sun burns deep into my mind.

The window slides back up and I sit there staring out of it, contemplating the day.