Page 2 of Blood Heat | AllFreeNovel

“We’ll see,” she says. “I’ll be on the porch when you get here.”

“Nana, it’s hot outside and I’m twenty minutes away. Stay in the house.”

“You just be careful,” she says, then ends the call.

I merely smile, knowing she will definitely be sitting on the porch waiting for me. There’s so many uncertainties in my life, especially in my relationship, but my beloved grandparents aren’t one of them. They are my foundation and one constant unit I can always depend on. They have been their genuine, consistent selves since the moment my mom left me with them to raise twenty-three years ago.

While I didn’t know what was happening or had no clue why my mom wasn’t taking me with her when she left this time, even at that early age, I knew I was okay. My grandparents loved on me and made sure I wanted for nothing. They raised me in the same home they raised my mother and assured me daily that I was wanted. My mother never returned, not even for a visit, but Nana and Papa filled that void in my life. I love them so much for that. Whatever they need or want from me, they can have without hesitation.

Nana doesn’t drive, and while Papa adores her, he loathes taking her to the nail shop, salon, or grocery store. Those outings have been mine since the day I got my driver’s license. Shae helps too when my schedule changes, but I try my best to be available.

The drive to my grandparents’ is actually only fifteen minutes but I factored in an extra five minutes for my stop at Brewed Bean. After my restless night and spoiled shower this morning, I need caffeine and lots of it. I grab a pumpkin spice latte with a double shot of espresso for me and a tea for Nana. She drinks at least three cups of tea a day.

A huge smile spreads across my face when I pull up to the brown and beige ranch style, three-bedroom, two bath home that holds so many beautiful memories and see Nana sitting in one of her two large wicker chairs. Her beautiful cinnamon toned skin glows and her pretty silver hair shines in the sunlight. She stands when I kill the engine and smiles when I approach her, holding our drinks.

“What’s wrong, Peanut?” she asks with a frown.

“Nothing. I’m good, Nana,” I say and smile.

“The lines in your forehead say otherwise. It’s too early for your forehead to be wrinkled like that. You and Langston fighting again?” she says with too much concern. Even she is all too familiar with my situation with him. “Love isn’t arguing,” she adds.

Because I hate for her to worry about me, I simply blame my apparent wrinkles on my horrible day at work yesterday. “It’s not him,” I lie. “Just work but I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll be fine. Besides, manicures and hand massages always cheer me up. Let me tell Papa hello and grab his keys so we can go.”

Nana is seventy-four years old and getting into my Jeep is too arduous for her. Whenever I take her on her field trips, I drive my papa’s sedan and he gladly hands over the keys.

After placing the drinks on the wicker table between the chairs, I walk into the house. He’s in his favorite recliner, watching a black and white western and eating a slice of pound cake. I swear Nana bakes a cake every week.

“What you watching, old man?” I tease before leaning in and kissing his cheek.

“Ay. Ask your nana if I’m an old man,” he responds and I cringe.

“Umm, Papa, that’s too much,” I scoff and he chuckles.

“Watch that old man stuff then.” He lowers the recliner, sits up, and grabs the keys from his pocket. “It’s full of gas, so feel free to take her wherever she needs to go.”

“I have to be to work at twelve. We’ll probably just go to the nail shop and maybe The Marketplace if we have time. I can come back Saturday if she needs to go somewhere else.”

“You know she always has somewhere to go. I tried to teach her how to drive but she never learned,” he says while shaking his head.