I couldn’t take it anymore. “Listen weirdo…” probably shouldn’t have said that, “the man said to fuck off. You’ve got your t-shirt thing, so scram.”
Holy shit. I was all up in this guy’s face. What was I doing?
He glared at me, but I didn’t back down. With a huff, he stomped away, shouting, “Bitch!”
KP laughed heartily. “You know you’ve probably made the evening news.”
I slapped a hand over my face. “Oh my god. Get the wine and let’s get out of here. You win. No wonder you never go out and do normal people things.”
Did he have to put up with this kind of intrusion every day?
“I can’t believe you used ‘scram’ in a sentence,” he teased. “That’s so 1940s.”
“Well… scram is still a totally viable substitute for ‘get the fuck out of here, you fucking creep.’”
He grinned and continued to prod. “Because you already used ‘fuck’ in a sentence?”
I ignored that and changed the subject. “Do you have to deal with that all the time?”
“It’s worse in New York, trust me. That guy really bothered you, didn’t he?”
I puffed out a breath. “It’s just what he said, it was so racist and rude. And you were just doing your own thing, he doesn’t own you.” I was really fired up.
“He buys my movies…” He shot me a look. “He used to buy my movies, so I have to try and play nice.” He heaved a heavy sigh. “I’m known for being a shithead, so I’m surprised he approached me. He’s probably a big game hunter or something, otherwise he never would have dared to approach me.”
I laughed. “Wait, people are scared to death of you?”
He showed me a muscle, but the grin was back. “I’m quite powerful, you must know by now.”
Here we go. “Can you fly?”
“No.”
I batted my lashes at him. “Shout stuff out of the palms of your hands?”
“Nope.”
“Be invisible, see through walls, or crush things with your teeth?”
“No, can’t, ouch,” he answered to all three.
“Then you’re just a regular guy… yawn.” I took a long time stretching to prove my point.
He narrowed his eyes. “Turning over a new leaf is really hard stuff because there’s these harsh critics, like you, the feisty one, and Bubbas with casting preferences in the wine aisle who need shirt design ASAP. Maybe I should stick to assholism because you scare me a little.”
I just growled.
We went home, and Gran was in great spirits. Tammy and she had spent most of the day talking and reminiscing, and Tam got a chance to read to Gram. Gram wanted to hear Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and they also went for a walk with Gran in her wheelchair around the neighborhood. Tammy enthusiastically told me how Gran remembered her cheerleading tryouts and the day Stacy Ingram got the last cheerleading spot.
“I cried for days,” Tammy shared.
“And I told her to go to the principal and ask him to let her be an alternate since she was next in line for the team.”
I remembered that day.
“And then, like magic there was a spot for me.”
“And then like magic you won national all-stars… all by yourself,” Gran added.
“Damn right I did,” Tammy boasted.
“We went right by the Elks Lodge that hosted her reception,” Gran said enthusiastically.
“At least you had one kid who liked cheerleading.” I smiled a big, wide fake smile.
I hated cheerleading.
“At least you came to the games,” Tammy said, batting her lashes at me.
“That’s cause I threatened to kill her,” Gran remarked, straight-faced.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Yeah, it’s cause she threatened me… crazy old lady.”
“As she should have. Any respectable woman would. Also…” Tammy jutted her hip and batted her eyes, “I got all the recipes… yep.”
I stared at Gran. “Seriously?”
“Oh, come on. You don’t cook,” Gran defended Tammy.
“You don’t?” KP was astonished and his eyebrows raised a few inches.
I blew him a kiss. “Um, one detail I may have left out.”
He had been silent for most of our conversation. Gran and Tammy sat on the couch while KP and I were in the arm chairs flanking either side. I think he was just absorbing the banter of strong women. I wasn’t sure what he was used to as far as women were concerned, but we were quite a force of nature.
We chatted for an hour or so, and then Tammy got a few texts. She ignored the first couple, but finally answered them when a few came in quick succession.
She gave Gran a long, hard look. “That’s Jamal. He’s waiting for me at the restaurant, so I guess I should go meet him,” Tammy announced to the group.
I didn’t think she really thought it would be her last time seeing Gran, but she was getting prepared for that moment whenever it came. She stood up, and Gran tried to stand too, but Tammy wasn’t having it.
“Oh, you sit down and rest up,” she said as she leaned in for a hug.
Gran hugged Tammy as best as she could, being as weak as she was. “You have fun.”
“I’m gonna hang with him over the weekend. Since I’m pretty sure I’m going to marry him, we need to spend time together, just so I can be sure. I’ll be back on Monday night, okay?”
Gran patted her cheek. “You’re always welcome.”
“You know I’d move in permanently, but Cat’s taste in decor sucks. I’d have to completely redo the room.”
“My interior design skills are flawless. What are you on about, woman?” Seriously.
“Black and blue? The room is a bruise,” Tammy scoffed.
“What do you want? Hello Kitty Princess Bubblegum?” I challenged.
“A little femininity wouldn’t kill ya, Cat.”
“Whatever. Blah.” I gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
She then gave a second extra-long hug to Gran. When she was done, she was passing KP where he stood waiting, offering his hand for a handshake.
“What is this bullshit,” she protested, then leaned in and hugged him too.
“Right, hug time,” KP said nervously and did a little pat on her back.
When she let him go, Tammy looked up at him. “I hope you know Caitlyn is the best person you’ll ever meet.”
KP looked at me for a beat then addressed Tammy. “I hope you know, I know that.”
He looked dead serious. Seemingly satisfied, Tammy waved her goodbyes. Everyone had their way of dealing with life’s losses and gains. That was hers, quick and simple.
Since we’d bought the makings for a breaded catfish dinner, it was time to dive into cooking. The only problem was, Gran had the family recipe and she was the only one in the house who knew how to make it. It hit me that when she was gone, all of our family favorites would be with Tammy. I hoped Tammy was ready to hold up that part of the legacy.
“So, we bought catfish, but do you mind telling us how to cook it? You can stay on the couch and be an armchair chef.” I was pretty sure she’d want to cook the meal herself, but I knew she wasn’t physically able. However, she got up off the couch and headed to the kitchen unassisted.
“Gran, seriously, we can do this.” I tried to wrangle her back over to the couch, without manhandling her.