Page 1 of Fern's Date with Destiny
1
August, two years earlier…
Life, Fern knew, didn’t always go as planned.But it went in the right direction a lot more often if you helped it along then trusted in destiny.
Basically, that was her go-to plan.Figure out what she wanted, calculate the best route to get there, eliminate the potential problems.That was the part of her agenda that her family and friends knew about.
The final key component, though, was to open her hands and let fate do its thing.
She was delighted to come downstairs at the home she still shared with her parents to discover Grandma Sonora with her mother, the two women enjoying cups of tea at the kitchen table.
“Hey, Granny.You look bright and cheery.”Fern dropped a kiss on her mother Sophie’s cheek en route to hugging her grandma.
“Lots to be thankful about,” Grandma Sonora informed her, hugging her back with great enthusiasm.
Fern headed for the fridge and the teapot as soon as she was free.“Tell me more, only let me get ready at the same time?”
“Of course.”Sonora looked her over as Fern popped bread in the toaster and made her own cup of tea.“You’re not wearing your prosthesis today?”
At the table, Sophie snickered into her cup then wiped her face clear of amusement.“Sorry.It’s not funny.”
“It’s totally funny, Mom.Now.”Fern sighed and explained further, facing her grandma.“You know my part-time job with the painting company?I was carrying an open paint can, and my attachment jammed.I tried to let go, but the hook didn’t open.But since I’d already successfully passed Jimmy three pails, he wasn’t expecting an interruption and tugged.Forcefully.”
Grandma Sonora looked suitably horrified even as amusement twisted her lips.“This is not going to end well.”
“Nope.My prosthesis detached suddenly.Paint flew everywhere.On me and my arm, on him, on the floor, the walls.”Fern caught the toast as it popped up.“I have to get it cleaned and repaired.”
“Well, you do just fine without it,” Sophie pointed out.
“I do, but it’s convenient to have.”Fern eyed her grandma.“Now tell me more about why you’re all lit up with happiness.”
“Be careful what you ask for,” her mother warned.
“Hush,” Grandma Sonora muttered.“Just because the thought of your mother being in love makes you want to slap your hands over your ears, not everyone has the same sensitivities.”
Sophie met Fern’s gaze, amusement bubbling out of her.“Tell me, my sweet daughter, doyouwant to listen to your grandma babble on about her sex life?”
“I saidlovelife,” Sonora protested.
Oh boy.Fern stared at the ceiling, desperately trying to find a proper response that didn’t involve breaking into a cackle.
“See?I told you,” Sophie said with a laugh.
“She didn’t say a word,” Grandma Sonora complained.
“She didthe look.The one Malachi does when all of us are tormenting him and he’s trying not to end up in the doghouse after being surrounded by a gaggle of women.”
Oops.Fern concentrated on spreading peanut butter to the very edge of her toast.“Thank you for pointing out that tell.I will make sure I avoid it in the future.Grandma Sonora, I am delighted that you are in love.I aspire to be as happy and wholeheartedly head-over-heels as you in my future years.Mother, you and Dad are also very much in love, and very…demonstrative…about it.In case you’re not aware, sometimes your public conversations lean toward TMI.I can’t imagine where you learned it from.”
Fern pointedly glanced back and forth between the two older women until they both squirmed slightly, then laughed.
“Fine.”
“We’ll be good.”
Fern straightened and held her toast in the air.“To love.”
“To love,” they both echoed back.
