“Don't listen to him,” Grandma interjects.
“—that it was time. We've been spending a lot time in California, between the board meetings at Captive and coming here. We decided to put it up for sale and see what happened. We got a good offer, fast. We weren’t really expecting it to sell so quickly. When we go back home, we have to pack up forty years worth of crap.”
“I’ve already gone through the house and downsized it,” Grandma says, rolling her eyes.
“She got rid of everything that wasn't nailed down. I'm lucky she kept my chair and my bed.”
“And you,” Grandma says with a laugh. “Anyway, we kept what was important, and we’re going to buy some new things for our new house.”
“Where are you moving to?” I ask, shocked by all of this. I just can’t picture Grandpa in a condo somewhere.
Aiden squeezes my hand. “We have plenty of land here for them to build a house on, and they can stay in the guest house until it's done.”
Tears flood my eyes. I couldn’t be happier with the thought of my grandparents being around every day to see my baby grow up.
“Really?”
“She's crying, Ma,” Grandpa says. “Better not draw up the house plans yet.”
I get up and hug my grandma. “I’m crying because it makes me so incredibly happy.” I give Grandpa a hug next. “You and Aiden have already been talking about this, haven't you?”
“I needed to talk to him man-to-man,” Grandpa says seriously. “But, yes, we’ve picked out a spot. I just didn’t want to put the cart before the horse.”
“He's going to help Logan manage the vineyard,” Aiden tells me.
“That's great news.” I still can’t believe it.
“And it'll keep him outta my hair,” Grandma teases.
“Don't worry, were gonna put her to work doing something. Woman's gotta earn her keep,” Grandpa teases her back.
“Maggie asked if I would consider working a few days a week in the store. I’d need to learn more about wine but I'm thinking that might be fun. Getting out there and talking to people. Although, Aiden says he'd rather I make him ribs and bake pies.”
Aiden rubs his flat stomach. “Wouldn’t that be awesome?”
“So, I hear you're planning a quickie wedding,” Grandpa says, changing the subject as he takes another drink. “You knocked up?”
My heart stops beating. I can't lie to my grandpa, and Aiden's freaking grinning like a Cheshire cat.
“Wow,” Grandpa says. “It suddenly got so quiet you could hear a cricket fart.”
“I am,” I say.
“You’re what?” Grandpa asks.
“You're pregnant!?” Grandma yells out.
“Shhh! We don't want anyone to know. We haven't told anyone yet.”
“Jeez, I was just joking,” Grandpa admits. “Although, now I understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Why old Fox over there,” he says, pointing toward Aiden, “can't wipe the smile off his face. I was afraid he was going gay on us.”
“Grandpa!” I chastise. “People don't go gay—”
“I don't mean gay as in homosexual. Gay used to mean happy before all the rainbow equality stuff. He was a gay old lad, meant he was really chipper. Unusually happy. And, in my experience, a man who is too happy usually’s got something up his sleeve. You gotta watch out for gay—as in happy—people. And Aiden's been smiling so much, I half expected him to break out in song.”
“Well, now you know why I'm over the moon,” Aiden says, still grinning.
“And please don't tell anyone,” I add.
“Your mother is going to be happier than a tick on a fat dog.”
“Why haven't you told your family?” Grandma asks.
“I’m only about seven weeks, and Aiden's sister had an early miscarriage. We’re waiting until I’m twelve weeks and have had an ultrasound to tell everyone.”
“You won't be able to wait that long,” Grandma replies, shaking her head at me.
“Why not?”
“You’re skinny. You'll start showing soon.”
“No, I won’t! You don't start showing until you're, like, three months. And you don’t have to wear maternity clothes until five months.”
Grandma laughs. A loud, belly laugh. “You been reading those pregnancy books already?”
“Uh, maybe.”
“When I was pregnant with your daddy, I noticed my stomach at eight weeks. Couldn't button my skirt anymore.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, and based on how much you ate at dinner tonight, I reckon you'll be the same.”
“You have been eating a lot,” Aiden confirms.
“I can’t help it that I’m hungry all the time. And nauseous.”
“Morning sickness, dear?”
“A little. I haven't thrown up too many times though. Mostly, I just gag.”
“You need to eat a gingersnap every morning when you first wake up. Keep them by your bed. And if you can have a cup of lemon tea with it, all the better.”