Page 57 of Fall For Me
“Where you going, Granny?” Aiden asks when she stands from her chair and shuffles toward the kitchen with her walker.
“I’m just goin’ to my room to grab somethin’.”
“If you need something, one of us can get it for you,” Sean argues.
“Oh, now, stop it. I don’t need you kids a-fussin’ all over me.”
“Hey, Jade, mind if we take a quick break?” Seans asks, and as she caps her marker, he jumps out of his seat to help Granny.
He slides in beside her, shuffling his long legs to keep in stride with her short ones and asks, “Where does Aiden have you sleeping?”
“In the same bed as you, if you’re stayin’.”
“Take him, Granny. Maybe then he’ll leave me the hell alone.”
He glances back over his shoulder at me and smirks. “No en esta vida, Rebel. Ni en ninguna otra vida tampoco.”
“What did you just say to me?”
He knows I can’t understand a damn word in Spanish, but does he answer me? No. I need those translating earbuds you see advertised on social media. Now, there’s a thought.
“Let’s go. I’ll show you my new room,” Jade says, sliding off the chair.
She runs through the kitchen, her little ponytail swaying. Something about her reminds me of a younger version of myself. I don’t know anything about her mom or why she's not here, but the fact that Aiden’s just now finding out that he has a daughter, and her grandma is with her, is enough to tell me, for whatever reason, her mother's not in the picture. I can see her childhood being spent much like mine, because if I know anything about Aiden, it's that he’s not going to let her leave his sight.
Dad was like that with me. Sure, I had nannies and private tutors, but he refused to leave me at home with them. Planes and hotels became my classroom. Game nights were spent sitting on a bench next to him while he threw his clipboard at bullshit calls and barked orders at his players. Hockey has always been my life and the arena my home; it’s where I feel most like myself. The smell of ice, tape, and sweat. The sound of pucks ricochetting off the boards and skates cutting the ice. Yeah, I’ll take all that over a homecooked meal and baked cookies any day.
Jade’s giggles carry to the dining room table, breaking me out ofthe nostalgia. I stand to follow her and sneak a quick glance at Aiden. He watches her with a look of uncertainty on his face. God, I just know he’s questioning whether he’s capable of this new role he’s been thrown into. Everyone knows that man doesn't take many things seriously, but despite that and what he or anyone else might think, I know that he’s going to be a damn good dad.
“Yeah, this ain’t gonna work,” Aiden says, as Granny slowly shuffles her feet against the tile. “Sean and I are gonna move you into this room right here. It’s closer to the bathroom and the kitchen.”
“Why didn't you put her in there to begin with?”
“Because I thought she’d want some privacy, Mac.”
Okay, so maybe Aiden’s a little slow on the take, but eventually he figures things out.
“I told y’all not to fuss over me. The back bedroom’s fine.”
“Like hell it is, Maggie,” Sean argues.
I take over helping her to her new room. “Granny, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Sean, it’s that there’s really no use in arguing with the man because he’s gonna do what he’s gonna do.”
“Well, if you’re gonna be so hardheaded, then grab me that box sitting on the bed back there,” she calls out to Sean as we walk through the bedroom door.
Holding her hand, I help her sit down on the edge of the bed.
“He’s a little bossy, but he’s good lookin.’ Can’t say as I blame ya for goin’ after that one.”
“Oh, I didn’t . . . We’re not . . . I mean, I’m not?—”
“Well, if you’re not, mind if I do?”
“Granny!” I laugh.
Sean comes in, carrying a decorative box, and looks between the both of us. Granny reaches for the box, and he places it into her hands, then leaves us to go collect the rest of her things out of the other room.
“That boy is a keeper. I’m old . . . and wise . . . I know a thing or two,” she says, flipping the lid off the box and setting it beside her.
