Page 114 of Surprise! I'm Engaged To My Boss
A little over four hours later, I had already had snacks, jumped rope with Sophia and Aaron – the children –, played with Fluffy – the cat – and even tried to pet Tobby – the dog. Mrs. Lisa – the grandmother – had already told me her whole life story and I felt like she was about to show me the family photo albums.
But Julian was adamant. He remained in the room the entire time, probably afraid that if he left, I would end up telling his family the things he didn't want them to know.
At that moment, Mrs. Lisa was getting emotional as she told about her late son – Julian’s father. She spoke about how he had been a good, hard-working man his whole life, who did everything for his wife and son. This reminded me of my own story, and I allowed myself to tell a little of it too, “My father was like that too. My mother and I were everything in his life. I'm sosorry that I'm getting married in a few months and he won't be there to walk me down the aisle.”
“I can imagine, my dear. Has it been many years since he died?”
“Him and my mother, actually. I was still a child. My grandmother was the one who finished raising me and I still live with her. I even left home for a while. I went to college, I graduated. Then I ended up coming back when she needed me, and I promised her that I would only leave again when I got married, you know?”
“Oh, just like this boy here!” she pointed to her grandson. I noticed that Julian was looking at me intrigued, but I completely ignored him, turning my attention to Mrs. Lisa. “He left home when he got married, but he had to come back after his wife died, because there was no one to take care of the twins.”
“It wasn't just that, grandma,” he grumbled. It was the first time he had spoken up in the conversation.
“Oh, he says he also came to take care of me, but that's just his nonsense. I have my health problems, but I'm doing very well. I don't need a babysitter.”
“My grandmother says the same thing. And she, like you, is also very active. We have a bookstore, and she takes care of everything there, practically by herself.”
“And is it just the two of you? Or do you already have children?”
The word 'children' struck a chord in my heart. And the image of Alice rose strongly in my mind.
“I have a daughter, but she doesn’t live with me. She came from another mother, actually. She’s my husband’s daughter. Oh, I’ll show you a picture of her!” Excited, I took out my cell phone and accessed the photo gallery, until I found one I took with Alice and Michael on the day of the walk in the playground. “Look how beautiful she is.”
“My God, it's a little doll! Julian, come and see what a beautiful child!”
“I already know the girl, grandma...” he grumbled again.
And I got excited to continue talking about Alice, “It seems like from the first moment I met her, my heart screamed that she was mine, you know? I love her so much... Her and her asshole father. We're kind of fighting, but I hope we can make up.”
“Oh, you'll get along. And soon the three of you will be a beautiful family.”
“I wish this depended on just the three of us, Mrs. Lisa. But, unfortunately, there are things in our lives that we depend on other people for.”
“Well, I hope they're good people. Because if they are, they'll understand that a family should stay together, no matter what.”
She held my hand, and I smiled, grateful for that affection coming from someone who barely knew me.
Well, she had known me for almost five hours and it was a pretty intense period of time.
Suddenly, to my surprise, Julian's voice was heard again, “Grandma, could you take care of the boys for me? Just until tomorrow.”
“Until tomorrow? Are you traveling, Julian?”
“I am. Actually,...Lucy... came here to ask me for help.”
“And why are you still here? If there is anything you can do to help this lovely girl, you better do it now.”
I looked at him and smiled, feeling tears blur my vision.
“Thank you...” I whispered, moved.
“I'll just grab a coat and my documents and I'll be right back...” He stood up, heading towards the hallway
Mrs. Lisa also stood up and announced, as she ran to the kitchen, “And I'll make you a snack to take on the trip. Give my regards to your grandmother and tellher that when she comes to Denver she can come visit me.”
“I’ll tell her,” I replied, between laughter and tears.
I looked at the clock on my cell phone display.
