"Granny?"
"Yes, peanut?"
I raised my head so that I could see her face. "How did you know you love Gramps? Is it true love is different and not the same at times?"
"Where is this coming from?" she asked suspiciously, a smile on her lips.
"I just wanna know that all."
"Are you sure—"
"Granny!"
"Okay!" She laughed. "And yes, there are different versions of love and not just the parental and romantic kind. Love isn’t just a single feeling; it’s like a language we learn differently."
From the wistful look in her eyes, I could tell she was recalling the young days with Gramps. I’ve always envied what they shared, and when Dan and I got together, I always prayed ours would be just like theirs.
Look where that got me... I guess not everyone was blessed with that pure kinda love.
"Is this because of your boss?"
I snapped my gaze to her. "N-No...!"
"Catherine, there’s no need to lie. I have seen the way you look at him. It reminds me of how I do with your gramps. Which he always points out."
"W-What look...?"
"The kind that brightens your eyes."
"That’s not—"
"Do you love him?"
Her abrupt question made my insides stir. For once, I spoke the truth and not cuddled it in lies.
"I can’t, Granny... I really can’t."
She tilted her head in confusion. "Why? You’re not committing a crime."
"I-It’s complicated."
"Because he’s your boss?"
"Yes."
I felt shitty right now, but this was the only possible explanation I could come up with.
"H-He doesn’t do office romance, he’s um a workaholic. Don’t mind me, Granny, I’m sure whatever this feeling is will pass, just like every crush does."
"That’s what this is? A crush?"
"Just a crush, you probably misread that look."
"Catherine..." She stroked my cheek. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Granny. I’m positive."
Thankfully, the topic ended there, and we talked about other things. We had so much to catch up on, but we couldn’t do that in one night.
Granny got sleepy, and her head ended up on my shoulder. I thought about waking her, but I knew the moment I did, she would go back to checking on Gramps.
Just a little sleep will help.
I heard footsteps coming, and at first, my heart raced thinking it was Ares, but when I looked, it wasn’t. I cast the disappointment aside and smiled, pressing a finger on my lips.
Reed took off his coat and draped it on us gently before sitting opposite us.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"You’re welcome." Reed relaxed and folded his arms, his muscles bulging beneath his turtleneck shirt. "You can rest too... I’ll keep watch."
"I don’t think I can. I’m just gonna stay awake."
"Then I’ll just keep you company."
"Shouldn’t you be guarding Ares or something?"
He smiled. "I’m your bodyguard, remember? I watch you."
"That’s a very admirable thing to say."
"I’m not being admirable."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Nico can, but—"
"Nico? That elevated idiot?"
Reed snorted. "Nico might just surprise you..."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right."
"We should get her somewhere comfortable," Reed suggested, eyeing Granny.
"She will wake, and when that happens, sleep is gonna be the last thing on her mind. I wish I had come here on time."
"You came as fast as you could."
"I still wish I were faster. I was just out there in a resort while Granny was—"
"Don’t beat yourself about it. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters."
I smiled, and he did too.
~☆~
I walked into the room. "Hey, Gramps, I hope you have—" I paused when I saw him dressed already. "Healthy as a horse. I believe you this time."
"..."
"Gramps?" My expression twisted into worry. "Are you okay?" I sat beside him.
"Y-Yes, it’s just..." he sighed. "Yesterday you called your boss, King, right?"
"Yeah, he’s Ares King. I know the name is a bit overkill, but it really is his family name."
"You told me you worked for a bigshot CEO."
"He’s like a big deal at Midnight. Didn’t I tell you his name?"
"No... I don’t think you did."
"Oh..."
"King..." Gramps murmured in deep thought.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes, it’s just I think I have heard that name from somewhere."
"Maybe the news," I said, standing to take the rest of his things. "Come on, Gramps, we can’t keep Granny waiting."
"S-Sure..." he stood, but I rushed to take his arm. "I’m not a handicap."
"I didn’t say you were."
I walked hand in hand with Gramps as we got out of the hospital and headed for the car waiting for us. Courtesy of Ares.
I could feel nostalgia taking over me as we drove through town. It’s been so long, and I couldn’t stop smiling as my eyes took in all the view. A warmth found my chest when we reached the Lane Farm.
I got out first, holding onto Gramps’ hand as he followed. My eyes moved to the view, and I released a shaky breath.
The stretched out land under the open sky was a view worth anything. Long rows of crops in neat patterns, and wooden fences. The subtle farmhouse, white paint slightly weathered, and the wraparound porch.
The nearby barn, looking worn from the years but still exactly as I remembered it. The windmill and the tractors at the edge of the field.
And the last but not least of them all was the smell of soil and cut grass.
Home.
"I’ll take it from here..." Granny said as she took Gramp’s arm and led him to the house.
The sound of the car coming made me turn. It can’t be. When the car stopped, Ares stepped out, his eyes were glued to the view. I guess not even he could resist something like this. It always had a way of taking your breath away.
"What are you doing here? I thought you booked a hotel."
Ares flickered his eyes to me and shut the door, coming close.
"Who said anything about a hotel?"