The adventures of Red

Chapter 5: Momma

As Zeke walked out the front door Granny walked in the back door, and walked straight to the sink.
As Red enters the kitchen Granny says, "Hey kiddo what do you say we order a pizza for dinner tonight?"
"That sounds like a terrific plan to me Granny. Can we get the apple dessert pizza please?" Red asks.
"Oh yeah, that sounds delightful. Granny smiles. "I will order it as soon as I'm done getting the dirt out from under my nails."
"Ok Granny sounds good to me. You mind if I shower in the meantime?" Red asks.
"Sure Kiddo you know where everything is." Granny answered.
While leaving the bathroom after her shower Red sees an pair of headlights pulling in the lane. Red enters the kitchen and says,"Granny I think the pizza is here, I just seen lights coming up the lane. Do you want me to pay?
"No that's ok sweetheart I'll go pay you set the table real quick and I'll be right back."
Red does as she is told and goes the set the table. While setting the table Granny walks back in the kitchen and says "look what the pizza dragged in Red."
Looking up from the table Red sees someone coming in the kitchen behind Granny "Momma!" Red squeals with excitement.
"Hi baby, I made it just in time for dinner with you." Says Momma.
"I will go grab another plate." Says Red walking back to the cabinet.
Granny sets the pizza on the table and walks to the refrigerator grabbing out a pitcher of Tea and taking back to the table. Momma went to that other cabinet and grab three cups and returned to the table with them setting one at each plate.
Sitting down at the table Granny asks "So, how was everyone's day?"
"We were so busy at the hospital today. All of our beds were full and people were just filling the waiting rooms. It was insane, this pandemic is from over I'm scared to say." Mom says.
"Sounds exhausting, you going to be ok to drive home hun?" Granny asks Momma.
"Yeah mom I should be ok. Especially if there is coffee to go with that pie." Momma says with a smile.
"Well there can definitely be coffee within a few minutes." Granny says standing up from the table and walking over to the coffee pot.
As Grace sits across the table from Red she asks, "How about you ladies? How was your day?"
Red feels Granny's hand on her shoulder and she knows what's coming next.
"Red made a new friend today." Granny sings.
"Oh you did?" Momma asked, "Tell me about this new friend."
"He is Penelope's son sweetheart." Granny says citing Red off from saying anything.
"Wait, Penelope? I only know of one Penelope." Momma says.
"That's correct sweets!" Granny says with an I am up to no good smile on her face.
Grace looks at Granny and says, "You up for a walk mom? We need to go see my best friend. Zeke will be to afraid to tell her."
"Do what? Asks Red " you two are going to go talk to Zeke's mom right now?"
"No sweetheart, we are going to go talk to Zeke's mom right now." Grace corrects Red.
"I'll grab coffee, Grace grab the pie, Red grab the big flashlight." Granny says.
They all do as Granny said and they meet at the door with their coats on ready to go. " Do we have everything? Granny asked.
"Yes Ma'am. Says Grace.
"I guess so." Says Red.
"Oh what's the matter kiddo?" Granny asks.
"This is embarrassing, I can't believe we are actually doing this." Complains Red.
"Maybe so kiddo, but bless your daddy's soul but Penny and I have waited a really long time for this day to come." Explains Grace.
"What do you mean by that, Momma?" Red asked even more confused now.
"Well Red this is how it breaks down. I loved your daddy so much, when he said no contact with the Wolf family I tried really hard to listen to him. But, Penelope is my best friend in the whole world. But, by the time Daddy passed away you were old enough to think we were just crazy. We had to let you and Zeke meet naturally." Grace explained.
"Now that you got your explanation Kiddo, turn on that light and let's go!" Granny says leading the way out the door.
After walking a short time, knock, knock, knock! Grace pounded on the door. "Pen open up it's me Grace." She yells.
The door swings open and this beautiful women burst through the doorway wrapping Grace in a big hug. "Oh my goodness Gracy I'm so happy to see you! I was so shocked to hear your voice at this time of day. I thought you were one of the pack. They have been like lost puppies since Father passed away. Explains Penelope."
"It's ok Pen we understand." Grace says. 
"We?" Penelope asks well maybe if I wasn't being so rude I could see who was with you." She says stepping to the side. Please come in."
Oh Granny!!! It's so great to see you!" She says giving Granny a hug.
When Penelope pulls out of the hug she looks Granny over and says, "what is your secret you haven't aged a day."
"Why thank you Penny, I'm pleased to not be able to say the same. You have grown up so beautifully." Granny says.
"Awe, thank you Granny! So, this young one must be Red. Nice to meet you, I'm Penelope but, you can call me Penny." She says introducing her self sweetly.
"Wait a minute, if you brought Red to my house that means." She trailed off in thought for a second. "Zeke!" She yelled.
"Yes Mother," Zeke says entering the room.
"Umm Mom, what are they doing here?" Zeke asks.
"Don't be rude young man. Show our guest to the dinning room, that apple goodness is calling my name." Penny said pointing to the box Grace is holding.
"Well ladies right this way." Zeke says leading the way to the dining room. In the middle of the dinning room sat a beautiful tree truck table that could set 30 people around it.
"I'll go grab some plates I guess." Zeke said.
"Red why don't you go with and grab some coffee cups for us?" Penelope asks.
"Yes, please do allow us adults to have some time to catch up." Says Granny.
"Ok I guess." Said Red following Zeke to the kitchen.
When Zeke and Red reached the kitchen, Zeke stopped in his tracks and turned to Red. "I know you didn't want our time to end today Red. But, what is this all about?"
Zeke asked.
"This wasn't me I promise. It was all my mom and Granny. They made me come." Red tried to explain, her face glowing red with embarrassment.
"Well I guess we will find out together, coffee cups are right there." Zeke said pointing to a cabinet.
Red turned around and grabbed the coffee cups while Zeke grabbed plates. They then head back into the dining room to find all three women sitting at the end of the table looking at Granny's phone. "Aren't they just so cute?" Granny asked.
Catching a glimpse of the photo they were looking at Red yells in complete embarrassment "Granny! What are you doing? I thought that was just for a memory book."
"I was just showing your mom's how much fun the two of you had today. I thought they were cute pictures." Granny says.
"Seriously, that is so embarrassing." Red admitted.
"Well kiddo I disagree." Granny protests,
"To us it looks like you guys had quite the day today." Penelope said.
"We did Mother, but can we cut the crap and someone explain to us what is going on please? Asks Zeke.
"Ok well fine I guess, we do owe the two of you an explanation. Granny told us that she filled you in on how deep our families are connected?" Asks Penelope.
"Yes she did, however I get the feeling she left something out." Zeke said raising his eyebrows to Granny.
"Well hun, you two are our legacy. We have waited for so long for the two of you to find each other." Says Grace with complete excitement.
"Wait a minute what do you mean we are the legacy?" Asks Red?
"Your a bright girl Red, you know what we mean." Says Granny.
"You mean... we are... marriage?" Red stutters.
"Yes eventually Red. That's the only way to keep our pack from disappearing for ever." Penelope explains.
"We are too young for this, why did you guys have to tell us all of this tonight? We don't even know if we like each other we just met today!" Red says having a minor panic attack.
"Yes Red, we had to tell you today. I seen the spark between the two of you this afternoon. The two of you had to know so you can feed the spark, or we will all be forgotten." Granny explains.
Zeke just sat there in shock he couldn't say anything.
"Excuse me please, Red says standing up from the table. I need some fresh air."
"Yeah, me too." Zeke says standing up from the table. Zeke and Red walk out the front door into the cool fall air.