Handcuffs And Kisses (Series #1)

Chapter 29

Ah, love, let us be true
To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.

- Mathew Arnold

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Lilian Carson POV

"Welcome to my family home. Let me introduce you to someone special" said Alexander while staring at the house in front of us. Who is this special person? Someone special to Alexander must be really lucky. I am getting nervous, my social interactions are not something to be proud of. Alexander started walking towards the house and I followed him. I have never been to the village side before, it's my first time here and I am surprised to see this beautiful scenery.
Alexander approached the wooden door and knock on it. There was several types of trees from mango to apple tree and many more. Row of beautiful scented flowers and birds chirping, which sounded like a melody.

After few seconds, the door swing open and I saw a middle aged man, he was dressed as a butler, his hair was almost non existent and the wrinkles on his face was prominent.

"Hello Byron" said Alexander in a polite tone. Byron's eyes widen like he was surprised.

"Master Alexander what a great surprise, come in" said the man, named Byron with a warm smile then his eyes lay on me.

"This is Lilian; Is grams inside?" Said Alexander. Byron nod with a smile. Alexander gesture me to get in, then he walk inside the house, leaving me behind.

"This is the first time he had ever bring someone here. Thank you madam!" Said Byron in a respecting manner.its not a surprise cause Alexander is very secretive afterall. I shake my head in embarassment and nervousness.

"No, you don't have to be so formal" I said quickly. My anxiety will touch the sky if this man keep on acting like that. The house was decorated with minimum and simple stuff but it gave me a cozy and homely feeling.

"Come with me, let me show you Grandma's room. Alexander is there" said Byron. I followed him. This place was not that big but still it was giving me a sense of happiness and calmness. So the special person is his grandma, I wouldn't have guessed that. Then this is my first time meeting a proper family member of Alexander. My heart was beating a little faster than usual. We approach the room and i saw Alexander standing outside the door. Alexander noticed us and then quickly turn around his gaze. I could swear I saw tears in his eyes for split of second.

"Are you not going to see her?" Asked Byron while staring towards Alexander.

"I don't know how would she react. It's been long time since I saw her" said Alexander. I just stood there, trying to understand the situation.

"She will be happy that's all I can say" said Byron with a smile and then walked away. Alexander looked oddly satisfied and happy which made me relaxed and happy too. I saw as he turn around the knob and open the door. Would his grandma like me? I was little scared. I was curious to see her and talk to her. We enter the room and I saw the old woman, she was sitting in a wheelchair. Her hair was greyish white and her eyes looked more soulful than anyone I have seen before. The woman looked confused for a second but then she started giggling like a child and looked excited.

"Dad! You are here. I am so happy" said the old woman and started clapping in excitement. What? I hope I just heard it right. Dad? I stare at Alexander in confusion. Alexander walk over to her and hugged her. The woman excited look at me and her smile became more wide.

"Mom! You are here too. Today is my lucky day" said the woman. Is she calling me mom? The woman came closer to me and throw her arms at me, requesting me to hug her. She looked joyful and that smile on her face was forcing me to cry for some reason. I quickly hugged her. For some reason I don't want her smile to fade away because of me. The woman was just like a child.

"I want to show you guys my drawing of us" the woman roll her wheelchair to one of the drawers and started searching it, she looked very excited. I stare at Alexander, he walk towards me.

"She has dementia, so she thinks I am her dad" he said while staring at his grandma. I thought so she has some kind of mental illness. I never saw my grandmother, so it's a great feeling to see her. I don't know but the moment she smiled at me, I felt great, it felt like I did something good for this world for the first time.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" I asked.

"Not everyone react like you did" he replied. Grandma giggle and roll her wheelchair back to us, she was holding a paper in her hand.

"Here, I have drawn us. We look so happy together, look mom" she said and handed me the paper. I took the paper and look at it. The drawing was like a child drawing. It was three stickman, drawn with crayons. On the left side was a stickman with long hair with a creepy smile which might be me, on the right side was Alexander with his usual grumpy look and in between was grandma, standing while holding a teddy bear. Alexander's art is on point.

"It's very beautiful" I said with a smile. She clapped with enjoyment. With the corner of my eye I saw Alexander staring at me. As soon as he saw me noticing him, he turn his gaze to his grandma.

"Let's go and eat, I am hungry" said grandma and roll out of the room.