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She cocked her head to look up at him. “You’re sure?”
“Completely sure.”
“Then I’ll tell you where you can put them.” She followed him toward the dining room, her walker clunking on the hardwood floor.
I put the flowers in vases and placed them on the dining room table for us to enjoy. I returned to the kitchen and opened the wine, poured two glasses, and then started slicing the chicken. When Elrik returned, I had him ladle the gravy into the server and take that intothe dining room as well. He took our glasses of wine, plus juice for Grannie, served in a pretty glass.
When the chicken was ready, I joined them, placing the heaping platter on the dining room table.
It hadn’t been that long since Grannie entertained people here. The table could easily support ten. Now the three of us would sit on one end.
“Take the head of the table,” Grannie told Elrik. “My deceased husband used to sit there. I think that position holds the most respect, don’t you?”
“Then you should take it,” he told her.
“Nah. I’m a peanut. I’ll settle on one side.”
I helped her sit in her chair and move it close to the table, then placed her walker near the wall. Rounding the table, I sat opposite her with Elrik, who was still standing, on my left side.
Once we’d both settled in our seats, I lifted the platter of chicken and offered it to him, grinning at the big portion he took.
We passed the food around and once we’d served everything, we dug in.
“The chicken’s cooked to perfection,” Grannie said, clicking her dentures. “I taught you well.”
“You did.” Her praise was a little thing, but she wasn’t one to do more than pat me on the back every now and then. I’d always assumed her lack of physical touch was due to her upbringing, but it made me sad. My mom hadn’t given out many hugs either, come to think of it. As for my dad, he’d bailed before he could hold me even once.
But I didn’t want to feel upset about that tonight. Mylife was going very well. I could find pride for my accomplishments within myself. I didn’t need anyone else to hand that to me.
“The meal is wonderful,” Elrik said. “Everything. Your gravy is particularly amazing.”
My face grew hot. “Thank you.”
“See?” Grannie said slyly. “The way to a male’s heart is through his stomach.”
I chuckled. “Carla seems to think so too.”
“Did she say that?” Her lips twisted, and the humor left her eyes. “She wouldn’t know. From what I heard, she never cooked a single meal for Walter.”
“She said he enjoyed her hot crossed buns.”
“That she bought from a bakery.”
Really? “Maybe they enjoyed going out to eat.”
“I doubt it. He started making plans to divorce her within a few weeks of the wedding.”
I gaped at her. “I can’t believe that. They were in love.” I swallowed my bite of chicken that clawed its way down.
Grannie grunted. “That woman never loved anyone but herself.”
“Grannie Rose. Why am I hearing all of this now? You always spoke well of her. You had her babysit me.”
“She was good at watching a twelve-year-old child; I’ll give her that, but she wasn’t a good wife to Walter. Did you know he and I had talked about marrying at one time? We’d dated for almost a year when she lured him away.”
My head was spinning. What alternate reality had I suddenly stumbled into? “You and Walter . . .”
“Did you think I had him over to dinner all thosetimes because I was a nice person? He was courting me, and I was letting him do so.” She huffed. “I should’ve moved on him faster, though. Then things might’ve worked out between us.”
