A Whisper

22: Atlantic City Bound

When I got home from shopping the next day I immediately noticed luggage by the door inside my apartment. Nat King Cole was playing on the iPod I had been trying to teach Gran to use for years but to no avail. Gone was her old lady cell phone, replaced with a fancy pants new iPhone. I knew it had to be hers because of the cover on it. I couldn't imagine Dr. Brigant would want a Josh Groban cover on his phone. Most shocking was when she stepped out of the bedroom. For as long as I could remember, Gran's hair was almost to her waist. Usually it was coiled up in a twist or bun. Occasionally she'd braid it.

Now it just barely brushed her shoulders.

"Gran?" My jaw was on the floor. Literally. On the floor.

"Oh, hi, honey," she smiled. "I'm glad I caught you before I leave."

"Where are you going? In search of your missing hair, maybe?"

"I needed a change. Do you like?" she asked, reaching up to smooth her hand over her hair.

"It looks great." Nevermind that I'd suggested multiple times that she cut it in a similar style. "Where'd the iPhone come from, Fancy Drew?"

"Fintan and I got matching phones. He had his receptionist load some nice music on it for me," she said. "Where have you been all day?"

"I stayed at Eric's last night and then I went shopping for a new bikini. What's with the luggage? How did you learn to use the iPod?"

"I'm going to Atlantic City with Fintan tonight. We decided we don't want to waste any time. We're getting too old. We're getting married." She held out her and to flash a huge rock.

I'm sorry, what?!

"Adele Evangeline Hale Stackhouse!" I stepped closer to look at her hand. The ring was gorgeous. Kim fucking Kardashian would be jealous. "I thought you were just friends!"

"Well... the last time you asked we were just friends," she shrugged.

"Ha!" It wasn't that long ago. "Are you sure about this, Gran?"

"Very sure. He's a good man that treats me like a queen. I haven't felt like this about someone since I first met your grandfather," she told me.

"You know I just want you to be happy. If Dr. Brigant makes you happy, then you should be with him. I just had no idea it was so serious. Are you... will you be living with him?"

"I will. I'm sorry I didn't discuss it with you first," she apologized. "I'm going to move my things once we're back. We'll be gone for four days."

"Do you want to sell this place?" It was an okay apartment, but I'd chosen it more for her than for me.

"Where will you live?"

"I've actually been thinking about finding a place of my own," I admitted. "You know I adore you, but I think it's time I have my own place."

"So this couldn't have come at a better time," she smiled.

"I can't believe you're trying to sneak off to Jersey without telling me."

"I'm not sneaking. You weren't home," she pointed out. "I'm was planning on callin' you."

"You would reach through the phone and whoop me if I went to Jersey to get married without you," I countered.

"I've also been on this earth fifty years longer than you, young lady," she reminded me. "I'm allowed to do things you'd get a whooping for. You can do the same for your own grandbabies one day."

"I'm thirty, not thirteen, Gran."

I wasn't disappointed she was getting married, just hurt that I felt like an afterthought to her.