Page 74 of The One Timer

“You’re a smart boy. Much smarter than me.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“So you’ll marry Emery then?”

Blood drains from my face and my smile disappears. “Gran, I…”

“You should see your face. You’re probably whiter than I am right now.”

I snort a laugh and rub a hand across my face.

“It’s just that we’re a little young for marriage⁠—”

“Normally I’d agree, but you know she needs a family and she needs to feel like she belongs with us. Maybe you could start by living together.”

“What?” the fuck. “Who are you?” I shake my head. “Never mind. The more important question is whether Em would agree to live with me because I’m not so sure she would, Gran.” The admission costs me in a gut churn so hard I feel like puking.

She puts her other hand, the one with the needle sticking from it, on top of mine. It’s odd that seeing it, being here in the hospital with that smell and doctors all around me, doesn’t make me want to puke.

“Chase, I know you’re concerned, but she loves you. I can tell. It’s written on her face and she shouts it with everything she does and says.”

I stare at my Gran, my love for her welling up because she knew I needed to hear that, and because she said it out loud, convincingly enough for my gut to settle down.

“I don’t know Gran.” I look down, hating that my voice cracks with emotion. “She has a fierce need to be independent and…” This is hard to say to Gran, but I need to, “she doesn’t feel comfortable with our world—or that’s what she calls it. What she means is, she’s uncomfortable being around wealthy people and that includes us.” I watch for her reaction.

She takes a deep strained breath. “I know. It’s sad, but that will change with time, encouragement and her growing accomplishments.”

I laugh because she sounds so sure in her dismissal of what I’m thinking is my biggest hurdle.

“At least you would never worry about her wanting you for your money,” she adds.

I snort. “No, I only need to worry that she won’t want anything to do with me because of my money.” From the first time we met she made it clear this was all temporary, and it was all because of the damn money thing.

“I’d say it was reverse snobbery,” Gran says, “but Emily isn’t like that. She’s smart and open minded. She’ll grow more comfortable in time”

I shake my head. “Her problem have deep roots, Gran.” A picture of the neighborhood she lives in and the worn state of her jacket comes to mind. And the loss of her parents, like mine, has to weigh heavily on her.

Gran takes a rattling breath. “But she hasn’t allowed her problems to limit her career ambition and most importantly, her capacity for love. I have confidence she’ll come around and accept you, and our family.”

“Makes sense. Not.” I shake my head. “But I have to believe you’re right, Gran. I have no choice.”

She nods and closes her eyes. “Now let me sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow my dear Chase. And remember I’ll always love you. Even when I’m gone.”

I flinch at those last words though I’ve heard them before. She means them to reassure me and I suppose they do. They have to because I know she’s old and she’ll be gone one day sooner or later. Lord please make it later.

I lean in and kiss her forehead, squeeze her hand one last time and then let go.

When I come back out to the waiting area, everyone pounces at once, like they did with the doctors, asking about Gran. Everyone but Emery. As I reassure my family and friends, telling them Gran is okay, resting for now, I make my way to Em where she sits alone on a couch, leaning forward, listening and watching me.

Chapter Twenty-Six

EMERY

We sit together on the couch not talking, his arms wrapped around me as his family and friends each come over and say good-bye before leaving, promising to check in tomorrow and glad the old gal is recovering.

Eventually we leave and I walk with him to his car. He opens the door for me and I get in, not sure and not particularly caring where we’re going.

“Let’s go home,” he says, pulling his door closed, cocooning us in the intimate space of his sports car. “I mean Louisburg Square, not Portsmouth. You can stay with me in my old room.”