inkspresso

your blessing

Zach knocks on the white wooden door. "Grams! It's me! Open up!"

"Is your grandma really open with having us here for five days?" Kristin questions.

"She'd keep us here forever if she could." Jack jokes.

The door opens, revealing the sweet old lady. "Oh, my sweet boys!" She opens her arms and hugs them tightly.

"Grams, this Jack's mom, Kristin and his sisters: Sydnie, Ava and Isla."

She looks at the four women. "My, I don't know which one of you is the prettiest." She looks at Jack. "If you weren't so handsome, I'd think you're adopted."

They chuckle.

"Come on in, my Ryan has been helping me with the food while my Deaney is cutting the grass."

The sisters mutter about the picture of the couple. "How cute she really likes Jack." Ava giggles.

"Oh, grams." Zach calls her to attention. "You remembered to take out all nuts from the house, right? I know how grandpa likes to eat peanuts while watching TV."

"I told your grandfather that if he dares to ever have a crumb of nuts in his shirt, I'd make him sleep in the coop with all the chickens." She holds his hand.

"I just don't want Isla to -"

"Relax, I may be getting old, but I still remember what you tell me." She rests a hand on his shoulder.

He nods and takes a deep breath.

Francesca claps her hands once. "Who wants some of my apple pie? It's all cooled down."

"If you think I'm a good cook, you have to try my grandma's food." He wraps an arm around her shoulders. "She taught me everything I know."

"Where's the kitchen?" Ava unceremoniously asks. Sydnie nudges her. "Oh, we were all thinking about it."

Francesca chuckles. "I like her. Follow me, children." She signs them the direction of the kitchen.

There, the woman cuts them all big, generous slices of pie and watches them eat. They all moan at the fantastic taste of the delicious pie.

"Grandma, I miss your pies, so much..." Zach whines. "I can never get them to taste as good as yours." He pouts.

She pinches his cheek. "Gosh, my sweet boy is home, I missed you so much, pumpkin." She kisses his temple.

"Missed you too, grams."He smiles widely.

"Good afternoon." Zach's grandfather enters the room.

"Granps!" Zach stands up to hug him tightly. He parts the hug and introduces Jack's family.

"Which one of you is the one allergic to nuts?"

Isla raises her hand.

"If you set up the television to play outside so I can eat my peanuts, I'll let you drive my tractor."

They all chuckle.

"Deal!" She beams.

"Zachary, pumpkin, show the girls the bathrooms while I put Jack and your grandfather to good use."

"Sure thing." He smiles and signs the girls to follow him.

Jack is practically pushed to the living room by Francesca and Dean. The woman forces him to sit down on the couch between her and her husband. He swallows in dryly.

"Oh, relax, we're not gonna kill you." She scoffs. "I wanted to give you the ring without raising any suspicions." She hands him a little box.

Jack opens it and takes one good look at it. A thin silvery band with a beautiful oval shaped marquise diamond. He tears up at the mere sight of it.