Shades of Gray

Chapter 1

"Grayson, I'm home!" Nanma calls from just inside the door of the house that's in the kitchen. "I've brought dinner!"

Awesome since I'm hungry!

Climbing off my full size bed where I have been doing my homework since I arrived home three hours ago at 3 p.m. Making my way downstairs to join my Nanma in the kitchen where the smell of dinner assaults my nose, and it is amazing! 

"Dinner smells amazing, Nanma," I say, taking an appreciative inhale of the Thai food. "How was your day at work?" 

"The food does smell amazing," she agrees with a tired smile. "Work was good, busy, but good. Oh, my new personal assistant, Holly is having dinner with us tomorrow night. Her family is joining us, too."

"Cool. How many people, so I know how much food to cook?" I ask while thinking of what to make - what I'm in the mood to cook. 

Cooking and baking relaxes me, and I normally do the cooking except for Friday nights when Nanma insists on bringing home dinner for us. 

"Including Holly, there are four of them plus us, so six," she replies with a smile. "Can you make something with chicken?" 

"Anything for you, Nanma," I grin seriously as she wraps her thin arms around my waist as I do the same to her for a tight hug. 

Blinking rapidly as I'm suddenly overcome with emotions, and I have no idea why. When we pull apart, I think I have this under control, but the look on Nanma's face says otherwise, so I suggest we eat before she can comment. We take the food containers to the table along with the chopsticks, and our glasses that we've filled with sweet tea, and we sit across from each other. We enjoy each other's company silently for a couple of minutes before she talks. 

"Grayson, your mama sent me a letter yesterday, and I didn't read it until I was at work today. She wants to see you since it's been a while. Do you want to see her, and if you don't that's fine, too?"

Searching her face for any signs as to what she wants me to do, but her expression is blank as if she knew I would do this. Chewing on my lower lip while silently trying to decide what I want to do. 

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to see her," I mumble on a sigh as I shrug my shoulders. 

She gently but seriously tells me; "You don't have, too, Gray. Don't feel guilted into seeing her if that isn't what you want."

Smiling weakly at her with a tiny nod; "I know, but it's been what, six years since the last time I saw her?"

Nanma nods as she thinks; "Yeah, you were ten the last time you visited her on Mother's day."

"Yeah, that was when I finally decided that I would rather spend every Mother's Day with you, and not her," I acknowledge with a smile over at her. 

"Grayson, what she did," Nanma starts, but I shake my head causing her to stop since I don't want to discuss what my mama has done in the past. 

"I know what she did, and that she had her reasons, and I understand," I say with a frown. "But it doesn't mean that I agree or condone her actions. She had other options, but she choose what she did, and all of us have to deal with that. You and papa are raising me, and not enjoying me as your grandson only, but in reality as your child to raise. That's not fair to you or papa."

"Yes, she did have other options that she ignored, but your papa and I love you dearly, and we're happy to care for you when your mama can't," she seriously replies, and I can see the honesty burning in her brown eyes. "We wouldn't want you anywhere but here, my dear."

"Okay," I murmur with a tiny, thankful smile as unshed tears burn my eyes as we continue to eat. 

"How was school?" she asks dropping the subject of my mama for now. 

"Same as always," I shrug, avoiding eye contact with her since I don't want her to see the sadness in my answer. 

"Gray, you need to tell an adult there, or let me speak with Mr. Winters," she replies, gently but firmly. 

"In eight months, I graduated, and I won't see them again, so what's the point," I insist for what feels like the hundreth time since school started a few weeks ago. "I can handle their verbal taunts for that time."

Nanma sighs heavily as we finish dinner, and start to clean up; "FIne, but if it becomes more of a problem, I'm stepping in."

Silently nodding as we step into the kitchen to place the trash in the garbage, and dirty dishes in the stainless steel dishwasher. All the appliances are stainless steal, the walls are painted a light blue color, the cupboards and trim are light wood, and the counter tops are the fake white marble. 

"Oh, does anyone for tomorrow night have any sort of food allergies?" I ask suddenly remembering I never asked, and I need to know so I don't accidently make anyone sick or worse. 

"No allergies, love. I asked Holly, so I could tell you," she smiles at me since she knows me so well. 

Nodding in appreciation, we wander into the living room to watch a movie off Hulu together. This is a normal Friday night tradition that we've done for as long as I can remember. I know that it might be 'unusual' for a teenager not out with friends on Friday night, but I enjoy this tradition. I usually spend Saturday with my two best friends - Wyatt and his boyfriend Kyler. Wyatt and Kyler have been dating for a year, and they are cute together. 

Nanma and I live in the two story home that she and papa built twenty years ago after they had been living in an apartment before then. They were married for thirty-four years before papa died last year of a heart attack while at work - he owned his own construction company. Nanma owns and works at her own company - a fashion model company that takes the pictures for the magazines, ads, and online stores and ads. She started the company thirty years ago, and I work for her, too, and I love it.