Page 84 of About that Fling
The old man grinned. “Oh yeah? What else did he tell you about me?”
“He said you worked as a lumberjack for forty years and that you’re very good with your hands.” She smiled, warming up a bit. “He also said you love dogs—that you had some really great ones when Adam and Beth were growing up.” She pointed to a framed photo on the end table beside him. “That must be Shaggy on the grass next to you in that photo?”
Gramps raised a bushy eyebrow. “Saggy ass? Well, missy, you’re getting a little personal now. An old man can’t help it if things start to droop a little bit here and there as he gets older. ’Course Edie never had any complaints in that department.”
Adam stifled a laugh and turned away, leaving them to get acquainted. He edged over to his grandmother’s bedside. She looked small and pale, as though she might blow away if he sneezed on her. Not that sneezing on old people was ever a good idea. He’d done enough jobs in healthcare to know that.
His brain was drifting to absurdity, so he reached out and squeezed Nana’s hand. It felt bony and frail, and there was no sign of recognition from her at all.
“Hey, Nana—it’s me, Adam.”
No response. He stroked his finger over the back of her hand, tracing the knuckles and thin bones. Did she even know he was here? The nurses had warned him she’d been unresponsive all week, but still. He’d hoped for some sign.
Behind him, Jenna was still trying to connect with Gramps. “I’ve always wanted a dog myself, but we had cats growing up. A big Maine Coon named Sugarbear and a sweet little black-and-white tuxedo kitty we called Spot.”
“Bald spot?” Gramps ran a hand over his shiny scalp. “Yeah, well, that runs in the family, too. You wait and see, Adam here will be dropping clumps of hair left and right when he gets to be my age.”
“No, I?—”
“Jenna is Adam’s girlfriend, Gramps,” Beth said. “Don’t you think he did better this time around?”
At that, Adam turned to face them, not sure if he was more interested in Gramps’s reaction or Jenna’s. He saw his grandfather grin widely, and Jenna followed suit, looking a little nervous.
“Sure am happy to have you here,” Gramps said, leaving it open whether he meant Jenna or Adam or the whole family. He looked past Jenna to Adam and nodded. “You have her eyes, you know. Edie’s. She sure was proud of what you made of yourself, boy.”
“Thank you,” Adam said, swallowing back the lump in his throat. “That means a lot.”
Gramps swiveled his gaze back to Jenna’s and grinned. “You sticking around for lunch, girlie? Corned beef and mashed potatoes. ’Course it’s not as good as what Edie used to make. Boy, she was one helluva good cook in her day.”
Jenna gave Adam a nervous smile, then turned back to Gramps. “Yes, that’s what Adam said. He told me about the little diner she used to own. How people would come from miles and miles just to have a slice of pie at Edie’s.”
“ED?” Gramps frowned. “Well, now you’re getting real personal, missy. A man’s erectile dysfunction is his own business, and they got those little blue pills now that can?—”
“Okay, Gramps, cut it out.” Beth was snort-laughing in the corner, wiping tears from her eyes.
Jenna gave her a perplexed look before turning to Adam. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “You told me he was hard of hearing, but I had no idea?—”
“What’d you say about my hard-on?”
Adam choked on a laugh of his own, his hand gently squeezing Nana’s. “Gramps hears just fine, Jenna.”
“What?”
“He got better about wearing his hearing aids a few years ago, so now he hears better than I do. He’s yanking your chain.”
Jenna blinked, then turned back to Gramps. “Is that true?”
“I’m not allowed to yank anything around here,” Gramps muttered, though the twitch of a smile gave him away. “Nurse came by just last week and smacked it out of my hand when I was sittin’ there in the common area enjoying a little adult television. If they don’t want us to watch the Playboy channel, they shouldn’t have it out there.”
“They didn’t have the Playboy channel, Gramps,” Beth said, still dabbing at her eyes. “Not until you figured out how to hook it up illegally.” She nudged Jenna with her elbow. “In addition to his hearing being perfect, his mind is still sharp as a tack.”
“He teased us mercilessly when we were kids,” Adam said, watching as Jenna’s shoulders started to relax. “If it’s any comfort to you, he only screws around this way with people he likes.”
Jenna shook her head and turned back to Gramps, a smile spreading slowly across her face. A look of fondness had replaced the horrified expression she’d worn moments ago, and Adam gave her hand a squeeze.
“Jeez, you had me worried,” Jenna said. “I think I see now where your grandson gets his sense of humor.”
Gramps grunted. “Well if he’s good in the sack, he gets that from me, too. If he’s lousy, blame his father.”
