Consider Yourself Lucky

Seventeen

After what seems like hours of endless cooking shows, I go to the kitchen to find something to eat. Since Grandma hasn't been home and I've been with Collin, neither of us got a chance to go grocery shopping.

"Grandma, I'm going to run to the store to get some groceries. Did you want me to grab you anything special?"

"Uh, not from the grocery store but I've really been craving a panini. The hospital food sucked."

"What kind would you like? I can stop at the cafe on the way home."

"Just a ham and cheese with tomato, please. Thank you dear."

"Yeah of course. I'll be back later. Call me if you think of anything else."

"Will do." I grab my things and head to my car. I wonder if Collin would like me to drop off some lunch. He's paid for practically everything since we started seeing each other so I think it would only be fair to at least offer. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't?

"Grabbing some groceries then stopping to get some lunch for Grandma and I. Would you care for a panini? On me." I wait a couple minutes to see if he answers before leaving. Five minutes go by and still nothing. Oh well. I decide to go to the store I work at instead of driving out of town. I turn my radio up and my windows down. I have a love/hate relationship with the weather. I definitely prefer the warm over the cold, but I don't like when it's too hot. I could live with sixty-to-seventy-degree weather for the rest of my life. The cool breeze blowing in my face is calming and I jam out to whatever song is on the radio.

When I arrive to the grocery store there aren't many people. I stroll up and down the aisles, throwing any type of food that sounds good into the cart. Rule One of grocery shopping, never go when you are hungry. You'll spend way more than you intend to. My manager sees me as I'm checking out at the register.

"Hey Addy. How is everything?" I'm glad I work with people that don't feel some type of way when they see you in public on a day off.

"It's alright. I was going to talk to you next time I worked but I might have to take some more days off depending on when my grandmother starts her treatments. When we visited yesterday, they informed us she has a tumor on her brain, and she chose to go through chemo and radiation rather than surgery. I'm sorry if I'm asking too much. I don't mean to be a bother. It's just I'm the only family she has."

"Oh no no no. You aren't asking for much at all. You've been such a great employee; we have no problem accommodating to what you need. Just keep us updated on things and we'll schedule you according to your availability that week."

"Thank you, really. I appreciate it." I pay for my stuff and take my receipt and bags from the cashier.

"Have a great rest of your day."

"Thank you, you too." I give my manager a genuine smile as I leave the store. When I get back to my car, I check my phone to see if Collin ever answered my text from earlier. He did.

"I'm sorry I didn't notice your text. I just got back to the store from grabbing lunch, and I'm swamped with paperwork. Raincheck?"

"Yeah, no problem. I just figured I would do what a good girlfriend does and offer my boyfriend some lunch." I add a kissy face and press send. I call in to order the paninis so by the time I get there they are ready. When the order is placed, I toss my phone onto the passenger's seat and head over to pick up the food. I quickly run in, grab the bag from the to-go counter and walk back out. Paying over the phone is so much more convenient than waiting in line. Especially during a lunch rush. I drive off and decide to take the long way home which consists of passing the flower shop. I don't know why I get the urge to but it's harmless, right? While driving by, I glance over and notice there aren't any cars there. Which is weird considering Collin said he just got back from lunch. Maybe something came up or he forgot to do something? I'm just overreacting. I'm sure everything is fine. I continue my drive home trying not to think of worst-case scenarios.

I walk in the house and Grandma is already waiting at the kitchen table. I throw the grocery bags on the counter and put the cold stuff away. The other stuff can wait. I'm starving.

"I saw you pull in from the window and I'm so hungry I could eat a cow."

"Well ham is pig so I hope that will suffice." We both laugh and I sit at the table with her to unpack the bag of paninis. She hands me mine and tosses me the honey mustard I always get on the side. I wonder if Grandma ever argued with Grandpa. Or even caught him in a lie.

"Grandma? Can I ask you something?" She waits until she's done chewing to talk. Like a normal person with manners would.

"Anything."

"Did Grandpa ever lie to you?"

"Um, if he did, I never caught him. Why do you ask?"

"No reason, just curious."

"Adelaide, you don't just ask a question like that for no reason. Talk to me." I don't want to make it seem like something it might not be. We've only been dating for literally a day; I don't want to jump to conclusions. On the other hand, I could use some advice on if I really am just exaggerating things.

"Well, it's just I don't want to seem crazy, but I feel like Collin hasn't been completely honest with me." I tell her everything from the waitress on our first date saying I was prettier than the last to finding out "Cece" isn't just his landlords name but coincidentally also his ex-girlfriend's nickname to him just saying he was at the store but when I drove by his car wasn't there.

"That all does seem a little off. I wouldn't say you're crazy because you do have valid reasons to feel the way you do. I would feel the same way if I found out the same things you have and put the pieces together. I think you should ask him but if you think he wouldn't be truthful with you then maybe wait it out and see if things start to get better. If they don't then maybe, he isn't the one. You don't deserve to be feeling this way. I don't care how handsome he is, you do not settle for a man that will not treat you like the queen you are." She made me tear up a little. As much as it hurts me to say it, maybe I rushed into this relationship. I didn't even know him for long before I agreed to be his girlfriend. I'm just not used to anyone showing so much interest in me and putting in so much effort to make me happy.

"Thank you, Grandma. I love you." Collin still hasn't answered my last text, so I send him just one more.

"Having a cooking show marathon with Grandma for the rest of the day. Keeping phone on silent so all my attention is on her and the recipes I'll probably never use. Hope you get through your paperwork." I make sure it sends then put my phone on do not disturb. The remainder of the day is all about Grandma. I'll listen as she tells me what spices she would rather use than what the lady on TV is recommending. Or what extra ingredients she would add in to make it more flavorful. I try not to think about Collin too much and whether he's lying or not. I'm not much of a confrontational person but at this point I'm starting to see red flags. I don't want to say anything to him just yet because I feel like I'd just be acting crazy, but I also don't have the time to play mind games with a grown man. Either he starts telling the truth, or we're going to have some problems.