Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 52190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“So you want me to go to my room and lay low?”
“No. Fuck no. No more laying low. Unless you’re under me that is.” He shifts the car into gear, then into the next and the next until we are flying, windows down, holding hands riding into the future. “I want you with me. You’re going to have to meet my grandmother sometime, may as well be now.”
“You sure?” My tummy churns. He’s not said anything bad about her, but I have this feelings she’s not a strawberry smoothie sort of granny.
“It will be trial by fire, but just hold onto me and you’ll get through it.”
I hope so. Because if my ovaries are telling true stories, that sticky goodness you just delivered into my babymaker may just have found its home.
Martin’s grandmother is a whole situation.
She tore Martin a new one for missing their lunch, and all I could do is stand there and gawp. And when she was done, her barrels pointed toward me as the foreman came in, babbling about some water main they’d broken that was flooding the crypt.
Jesus.
I wilted as she shot me with those lasers she has for eyes.
“Martin?” I squeaked but he was gone. So much for holding onto him…
“I’ve seen you before,” she says, her eyes narrowing. “What’s your name?”
“Kitty.”
“Kitty… Yes. I know you. You were on Hoover’s Facebook. The pictures his new wife took of their wedding and tagged him in. You’re her daughter, correct?”
“Yes. You do Facebook?”
She rolls her eyes and turns to Sister Nathalia who has just come through the door with a tray of tea and cookies. “Do Facebook. Can you not teach the girls that come here to speak properly?”
“Well, I—” Nathalia looks flustered, her whole face turning pink. And I realize, despite everything she’s said and done to me, Nathalia has become like family over the time I’ve been here. I do respect her, and even like her, even if she can be a total bitch.
Sometimes a total bitch is necessary.
“I haven’t been here that long,” I tell Grandma. “I’m sure if she had the chance Sister Nathalia would beat the correct way of speaking into me.”
“Huh. Well. Yes I am on Facebook. And Instagram. And TikTok. Just because I’m old, doesn’t mean I’m past it.”
“So you know Hoover? Small world.”
“Know him? Of course I know him. What kind of a question is that?”
“Well, Martin said that they don’t know each other that well, so…” I frown, trying to figure out what I said that was wrong. “For you to know him, that’s a little…odd I guess.”
Grandma sighs. “Yes, he would say that. And I suppose he’s right, they don’t know each other very well. Strained, that’s the word I’d use to describe their relationship.”
Well, that’s a puzzling word to use.
Do they know each other or don’t they?
As I’m trying to figure it out, Martin comes back in the room, looks at his grandmother, then at me, and gives a puzzled smile. “Everything okay?”
I nod, a little dazed. Grandma rolls her eyes.
“We need to discuss what’s happening with this building. Let’s all take a seat. I’ve got good news and I’ve got complicated news, but nothing we can’t figure out if we put our heads together. That’s why I was hoping to have our lunch at the appointed time, but I suppose I’m the only one that bothers with a schedule any longer in these modern times.” She glances at me, then at Martin, then gives a frustrated sigh. “Well? Chop chop.”
Martin chuckles. “Kitty, you don’t need to hear all this. Why don’t you have some contemplation time in your room and I’ll find you when we’re done?”
“Why?” Grandma huffs. “No, she may as well stay. She’s family, after all.”
“What?” I laugh. “No, I’m—”
“Hoover’s stepdaughter. Yes. I’m not an imbecile.” Grandma points at a chair. “You’re family, dear, I don’t have secrets from family.”
“You’re related to Hoover?” I’m staring at her now, looking from her to Martin, whose face has darkened as he takes a step forward, coming my way. For some reason, instinct makes me take a step back. Something is happening and I don’t know what it is. “How are you related?”
“I’m not.” Grandma laughs. “Related to that oaf? No thank you. But he was married to my daughter, and he is the father of my grandson. So we keep in touch.”
“Your grandson…”
She turns away from me. “Martin, is this girl on drugs? She seems very confused.”
But Martin isn’t looking at her. He’s looking at me. And as he takes a step forward and tries to catch me, I move away from him. “Kitty, I can explain. Please, I need to tell you—”
“You’re Hoover’s son? We’re… That makes us…”
Stepbrother. Stepsister.
Jesus fucking Christ…
I have to get out of here. I have to run. This can’t be real, it must be a nightmare. If I run far enough away maybe I can flee back to the real world. “Don’t touch me!” I cry out as I scramble back.