Page 125 of The Disasters of Dating
The aunts and uncles move out of the house toward the food table. They look in our direction, and I groan. “I think it might be every man for himself. But if we separate, they’ll be forced to divide up. I think we might be able to take them if their numbers are fewer.”
Adam laughs. “This is the Poppy I’ve heard about.” He sticks out his hand. “Adam West, nice to meet you.”
I shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, too.” I glance over at my mom. She’s smiling. I won’t say that my mom hasn’t been happy for the last twelve years. But there’s been an underlying sadness in her. I have to admit, though, in the last month, I haven’t seen it as much. And I can only attribute it to the man next to me. “And Mr. West?”
“Adam, please.”
“Adam? Thank you.”
He frowns. “I haven’t done anything yet.”
I nod. “Yeah, you have. You make my mom happy. And that means a lot.”
He swallows hard. “Well, your mom’s a special lady. She makes me happy, too.”
“I’m glad you have each other.” I’m surprised how much I mean it.
“Someone’s at the door. Shall I get it?” My Grandma Sue calls.
I stand up from my swing. “I’ll get it, Grandma. But thanks!” Then I glance at Adam and lift a shoulder. “I did say it was every man for himself.”
He smiles and waves me away. “I think I’ll be okay.”
I leave Adam on the swings and move into the house. I reach the front door as the bell rings again. “I’m coming,” I call. Maybe it’s Keaton, and he got out of his meeting early. It’s the only person who’s not here and would ring the doorbell. My stomach does a little flip-flop at the thought of seeing him.
I pull open the door. “You made—” But the words die on my lips. “Grandma Alice? What are you doing here?”
CHAPTER 34
POPPY
To get to the soft, sweet center, sometimes you have to break through a brittle outer shell. You’ll be confronted with someone or something in your life that will present such a problem. But don’t be too hasty in casting them aside. It may be very well worth your time. So take a moment and let it settle. There is something worth pursuing. It’s simply hidden beneath a tough exterior.
Grandma Alice is standingon the front porch with a tall, gangly-looking guy behind her.
“Hello, Alice, dear. I thought if you didn’t have time,” she says the word condescendingly, “to visit me in Alaska, I would come see you here in Utah.” Her nose flares out as she looks over the house. “I see your mother hasn’t done much to keep the house up since your father passed.”
“My mom has done a lot to keep up the house.” I narrow my eyes at her. “Why are you here?”
Grandma Alice pushes past me. “Someone with manners would have asked me in. But we’ll see to those once you are living where I can train you.”
The guy follows her in, staying behind her. Is he her bodyguard? I mean, I can’t say it won’t be necessary if she keeps making comments like the one about the house. And this guy? I’m fairly confident I can take him.
“Alice, where is your mother?”
“She’s out back. We’re having a family dinner.”
“Oh, good. I’m family.” She motions to the guy behind her. “And he’s very nearly so.”
I open my mouth to ask why or how. I’m not entirely sure what the question is. Just that there is one. But she brushes past me and moves down the hallway to the back of the house.
“The Hayes family,” I clarify.
“Family is family,” Grandma Alice says.
But is it really? I don’t think most families drop in unannounced…from ALASKA!
My mom glances over through the sliding glass door, and her eyes go wide. She disentangles herself from Adam and nearly runs to the house. Sliding open the door, she closes it behind her. “Alice? What are you doing here?”
