Page 73 of The Closed Off Captain

She looks down at me, an unusual tenderness in her eyes. “You are so beautiful, my precious Granddaughter...both inside and out. I never wanted this burden for you.”

I blink back tears. “You are not a burden.” The words don’t come out as clear as I want them too.

She runs her weathered finger down my cheek. “You were the greatest blessing Grandpa Jim and I ever had. We didn’t know what we needed until God brought us you. You made us so proud and so happy, Chloe. You still do, and I know your Grandpa Jim is looking down from Heaven and is so very, very proud of his precious girl.” I swallow hard against the emotion clogging my throat. “I know the world casts a stereotype about who we should be as women. Quiet, submissive, a shadow, seen but not heard. My precious girl, you and I have never been anything like that.”

“I’ll say,” Gunner says dryly, and I can’t help but laugh.

Grandma May laughs too. “You are strong, my precious girl. And I knew one day, the right man would see it; and he wouldn’tbe threatened by it...not like the last idiot,” she says with a soft look.

“Gunner knows about him,” I mutter.

“The idiot with two first names?” Gunner growls.

Grandma May smiles in delight. “Yep, that guy.” She squeezes my hand. Then she says for my ears alone. “The right guy has seen who you really are and isn’t threatened by your strength.”

Chapter 33

Chloe

Grandma May’s words stay with me even after we leave. Gunner’s silent as we start the drive.“Thanks for getting the soup for her,” I say after a little bit. “I really appreciate it.” I ate a few bites of soup, just to appease Grandma May. Gunner still managed to throw down a salad, even though we just ate a little while ago. In the quiet, I think again of Grandma May’s words.The right guy has seen who you really are and isn’t threatened by your strength.

Grandma May knows this isn’t real between us; so, I don’t understand why she’d say that. I chance a glance at Gunner. Unless, of course, she thought there really was something between us. Or more accurately, that Gunner felt the same way about me as I do about him. I’ve never said anything out loud, but I’m pretty sure Grandma May knows how I feel about him. I mean I’ve brought him up enough times over the years that he has his own nickname between the two of us.

“Did you want to go straight to game night, or do you want me to take you home?”

Gunner’s question pulls me from my thoughts. I glance at the clock. “Oh, wow. I guess, just go right to game night? Does that work for you?”

“Yeah.”

“Is it okay if we stop at the store and grab food to take?”

He nods, and we settle into the quiet once again. It’s not stressful, or awkward, or even uncomfortable...even after thelast few days together. “You okay over there?” Gunner asks. “You’re really quiet.”

“I’m just thinking,” I tell him honestly.

“You’re worried about her.”

It’s not a question, and I don’t pretend to not know who he’s talking about. “Yeah.”

He glances at me. “Chloe, if you need money—”

“No.” I cut him off. With anybody else, I would feel mortified. With Gunner, I just appreciate him offering, even though I would never take him up on it. “Thanks, but I’ll figure it out.”

“Can I ask you a question?” he asks after a moment.

“Yeah, sure.”

“What happened to your parents?”

His question shouldn't really surprise me; it was bound to come up sometime. “My mom got pregnant with me when she was almost forty. She didn’t mean to. She lived on the streets, drugs...all that. She had me, gave me to her mom to raise, and went back to her life. She stayed clean while she carried me; so I owe her for that. She died before I turned three from an overdose. I don’t know who my dad is. I could probably try to find out, but I’ve never cared to. Anyway, my grandma passed away before I turned five. Grandma May and Grandpa Jack were friends and neighbors of my grandma. When she passed, they did what they needed to do, so that I could come live with them and not go into the system. They’re the best thing that ever happened to me; I owe them everything.”

“What happened to Grandpa Jim?” Gunner asks softly.

That one’s a harder one. “He died of a massive heart attack during my senior year of college. I never got to say goodbye.”

I feel a hand on my knee. “I’m sorry, Chloe. Tell me about him.”

I think of Grandpa Jim. “He was quiet and unassuming but strong at the same time. He was no pushover; that’s for sure. Buthe loved my Grandma May, and he loved me with all his heart. He always called me his girl.” I smile at the memory. “He played hockey, you know.”

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