Page 18 of Four Dates and A Forever
“Oh, my favorite girl in the world,” Harriet said, yanking Elsie in for a warm and hearty hug. It felt like long ago memories and coming home.
Elsie held on, burying her nose in her grandma’s hair and taking comfort in the familiar scent of burnt sage and mothballs. This was the first real I’ve-got-you hug since her divorce was finalized. That it was from her grandma made it all the more emotional.
“Now, now. None of that,” Harriet whispered, then pulled back. “Come inside. I’ve got dinner in the oven.”
“It smells… Tofurky-ish?”
“Eggplant parmesan with marinated tofu and sprinkled with baker’s yeast. Served with a nine-bean salad. Your favorite.”
Elsie held back a gag. “Yum.”
One time Elsie had complimented how pretty her grandma’s nine-bean salad looked, so Harriet would sometimes surprise Elsie with her infamous culinary masterpiece. Even Faye, who would eat anything that was plant-based, loathed Harriet’s nine-bean salad.
“Does that mean Mom’s not coming to dinner?”
Harriet waved a dismissive hand. “It’s the season for dream boards and goal journals, so your mom’s been working night and day. Between her clients and podcast, she hasn’t had time to even breathe, let alone sit down for a meal, in weeks.”
Part of Elsie screamed,Thank God!Maybe her luck would hold out and she wouldn’t have to face her mom for another week—or three. Elsie knew she’d have to confront Faye eventually, but since she embraced confrontation with the same enthusiasm as she embraced nine-bean salad, she prayed for a little reprieve on the whole betrayal topic.
The other part was sad for her grandma. After losing her boyfriend, Buster, Harriet slipped into a deep depression, which was why Faye had moved back in. The whole goal was that Harriet wouldn’t be alone for long stretches, but it sounded as if Harriet was still alone most of the time, even though her mom lived there.
Elsie sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Maybe this was the universe’s way of saying it was time for her to come home and give up on the Greenhill house.
“Well, I’m here,” she said quietly, not wanting her grandma to feel disappointed that the family dinner was for two.
Elsie stepped into the family room and smiled. Twenty-eight years and nothing had changed. A forest of plants had taken over the far corner by the fireplace and a collection of framed pictures from every era of Elsie’s life were displayed on the entry table. The furniture was 1980’s ratan chic, made from bamboo, with boldly patterned meditation floor pillows that gave it a Moroccan vibe.
The kitchen was straight through the gunshot-style house, allowing Elsie to get a glimpse of the table, which was already set… for three. Elsie narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “I thought you said Mom wasn’t coming.”
Harriet clapped her hands in delight right as the doorbell rang. Elsie’s heart sank because she knew who was behind that door. Or at least what was behind the door. The one thing worse than being ambushed by her mom was one of her grandma’s blind dates.
“Please, tell me you didn’t.”
She patted Elsie’s cheek. “Swiping right will only end with you chopped to little pieces and tossed into the Puget Sound.”
“Which is why I’m swiping left on life.”
Before Elsie could run out the back, the door opened and a man peeked his head inside. For the second time that week a male she didn’t want to see walked right into her life.
“Look how prompt you are.” Harriet ushered him inside. “Elsie, don’t you love a prompt man.”
Elsie didn’t love men period. Been there, done that, had an empty bank account to prove it.
“Elsie, this is Huey. Huey, this is my recently single granddaughter, Elsie.” Harriet stepped back and gave a dramatic swoop of the arm, as if she were Vanna White and Elsie was the grand prize of the night. “She owns her own business, has an average golf score of ninety-three, and knows how to cook.”
“It was mini golf,” Elsie corrected. “Although I did make it through the windmill hole in three strokes. And I can make a mean grilled cheese.” She deadpanned.
“And those teeth are all hers. Show him, dear.” Harriet clapped her hands as if Elsie were a party trick. “No braces for this girl. She comes from good stock.”
Huey looked appropriately scared. “Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand and Elsie noticed how small they were. Somewhere between toddler sized and a Disney princess. He looked at Harriet. “You look stunning, Mrs.Whitmore.” He turned to Elsie and paused. “You look… comfortable.”
Elsie took in her dancing pug leggings and her plaster-speckled T-shirt, and she had to admit he was right. “Well. I’m dressed liked this because I didn’t know I was on a date tonight.” She eyeballed her grandmother.
“Surprise.” Harriet made fireworks with her fingers. “You need some more surprises in your life, Moonbeam.” She looked at Huey. “Why don’t you go grab yourself a drink from the fridge.” When Huey was gone, she turned to Elsie. “And why don’t you go to the garage and get some pliers to pull the stick out of your ass.”
“I don’t have time for this tonight.”
“Tonight, you’re on the universe’s time, so until the world chimes, you’re all mine.”
