Toxic

Toxic: Chapter #62 | Smile Down the Aisle

Zach's Past

☣︎ ❦ ☣︎ ❦ ☣︎

⚠️ Warning: ⚠️

This chapter contains brief mentions of bad parenting. Take care!

☣︎ ❦ ☣︎ ❦ ☣︎

Note:

You can see the pictures of wedding stuff at the end of the chapter! Enjoy!!

☣︎ ❦ ☣︎ ❦ ☣︎

July 31st, 2005

There was a knock on the door, and I heard it first. I scrambled to open and flung myself at the man standing on our front porch. "Ganpa!!" I squealed excitedly.

Grandpa laughed and scooped me up right as ZuZu and E-Z came running, though ZuZu and E-Z came slower and with more subdued excitement. "How are my little angels?"

"Good! I wost a toof, Ganpa!" I opened my mouth to show him and giggled at his surprised gasp. I always loved when grandpa came to see us. Every moment was precious and considering we'd lose him five years later, I never regretted spending as much time with him as possible.

As bedtime drew nearer, I grew crankier and whined when my parents tried to get me to bed. Grandpa told them he had it covered, and I got to stay in his lap while he sat in the recliner. "Now, tell me what's wrong, Zachary."

I pouted and rubbed at my eyes. I was tired but I had an important question for my grandpa. "I had a keschin."

"A question?" he said, quirking a brow.

"Uh huh. It is potent, Ganpa."

He smiled indulgently and nodded. "Okay. What's your question?"

I glanced around and when I was sure it was just us, I turned back to him and softly asked, "How did you know you wuved ganma?"

He stilled and his eyes got that far off look in them that people get when they're remembering something. "Do you remember me telling you how I met your grandma?"

"Uh huh!" I exclaimed. "Ganma and you was at a school and does meanies tooked her books. She gotted them back but when she twied to weave, the boy push her in da mud."

"Exactly, but you know what?" he said with a smile on his face. "She was still the prettiest girl I'd ever seen. She was smart, funny and so kind. I think I loved her the moment I saw her."

"Wuv at fist sight, wight, Ganpa?"

My grandpa smiled softly and nodded, gently rubbing my back. "Love at first sight."

I scrunched my nose up and tilted my head. "Dats wike a fawy tale."

He nodded. "It is, but love isn't easy, Zachary. Love takes work and sacrifice, compromise and patience."

"A wot of work?"

"Yes, but guess what?"

"Huh?" I inquired, yawning slightly.

Grandpa softly chuckled. "Love is worth it when it means there's always someone by your side, always someone to call yours and someone that calls you theirs."

"I want dat too, Ganpa," I whispered as my eyes fluttered shut.

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and carried me to bed. "You will, little angel. One day, you will." He pressed one more kiss to my head and whispered a final goodnight. "You have a heart full of love, Zachary and I know one day you will find someone who deserves that love, who will take your heart when you offer it and will treat it like the treasure it is. Sweetest dreams, little angel."