Celestial Ties

CHAPTER 9

Amber POV

I was already in a terrible mood today, and Graham, of all people, just had to make it worse. Out of everyone, why did it have to be me who got stuck with the task of picking up Grandpa? It was the last thing I needed, and as if the day couldn't get any more frustrating, that simpleton at the entrance decided to add to my irritation. My teeth clenched as I approached Grandpa's room, trying to maintain a semblance of calm.

"Are you all set, Grandpa? Hope you've met the special guest that kept both of us waiting for an hour," I asked, my voice strained with a forced politeness that couldn't completely mask my annoyance.

Grandpa's warm smile softened his words, "Amber, you missed her."

"Missed who?" I snapped before he could even finish. But before he could respond, I cut in, unable to hide my irritation any longer. "You know what, Grandpa? Never mind." I signaled for the driver to come and collect his things, my patience wearing thin.

As I gently took Grandpa's hand, we began the slow walk to the driveway. Each step felt like an eternity, my frustration bubbling under the surface. The walk, which couldn't have been more than five minutes, felt like the longest, most irritating stretch of time I'd endured all year.

Grandpa, in his usual charming way, stopped to greet every person who crossed our path, as if he were some kind of local celebrity, just like Graham. It drove me up the wall. I couldn't understand how he could be so unbothered by the world when I felt like I was on the verge of exploding.

Finally, we reached the car. As I helped Grandpa into the backseat, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the car window. I looked composed, but beneath that surface was a storm of emotions—anger, frustration, and a deep-seated resentment that I tried so hard to keep in check. But as I closed the door behind Grandpa, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for how I'd let my emotions get the better of me.

As the car pulled away, I let out a long sigh, trying to shake off the tension. But it lingered, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. Today had been exhausting, and I knew it wasn't over yet. The drive home was just another opportunity for everything to get worse.

As we cruised down the road, the city lights blurring into streaks of gold and white, my thoughts were a whirlwind of irritation. Grandpa, with his usual charm, had managed to turn what should have been a simple drive home into another one of his spontaneous detours. "Pull over here, Timmy boy," he suddenly instructed the driver.

"Grandpa, why are we pulling over?" I asked, trying to keep my tone level, though the tightness in my chest was already making itself known. Timmy obediently pulled off the road, and I could feel the tension building in my temples.

"Isn't it obvious?" Grandpa's voice held that familiar teasing lilt, but I was in no mood for his games.

"No, it isn't," I snapped, quickly regretting the sharpness in my voice. But Grandpa, being Grandpa, wasn't fazed in the slightest.

"I'm the old one here, but you're the one lacking sight already, Amber," he said with a chuckle. I pressed my lips together, forcing a smile.

"I want to get some steaks," he finally admitted.

"Grandpa, your nutritionist said no greasy food," I reminded him, grasping at the hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd listen for once.

"And I don't see my nutritionist around," he shot back with a grin that made it clear he knew exactly how to push my buttons. I was teetering on the edge of patience, and he was reveling in it.

"I'm not your nutritionist, I'm your granddaughter, and I care about your health and well-being. I don't want you ending up back in that healthcare center," I said, trying to lace my words with enough sweetness to sway him. But even as I spoke, I could hear the frustration creeping in.

Grandpa chuckled, a sound that made my irritation flare. "The only one who cares about me is my sweet Evelyn," he said, and I felt a pang of something—was it jealousy? The name Evelyn sounded vaguely familiar, but whoever she was, she wasn't my concern right now.

I sighed inwardly, watching as Grandpa insisted on getting out of the car. I knew better than to argue further; when Grandpa set his mind to something, it was like trying to stop a tidal wave with a teacup. Still, a part of me wondered why he seemed so determined to frustrate me at every turn. Did he do this with Graham too, or was it just me? The thought gnawed at me as I watched him shuffle towards the steak shop, his stubbornness etched into every line of his face, I order the driver to keep an eye on him.

As he disappeared into the shop, I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes for a moment. This was supposed to be a simple task—pick up Grandpa, bring him home. But nothing with him was ever simple. And now, I was left to stew in my thoughts, wondering why I always seemed to end up on the receiving end of his little power plays. I cared about him, truly, but it was hard not to feel overshadowed by Graham, the golden grandchild. Grandpa might not see it, but every little remark, every detour, felt like a reminder that I was somehow... less.

As the minutes ticked by, I opened my eyes and glanced at the shop door, half-expecting to see Grandpa strolling out with his forbidden steak, a look of triumph on his face. And then there was Evelyn—whoever she was—lingering at the back of my mind, a name that seemed to carry more weight with Grandpa than I could understand. I just needed to get Grandpa home, get through this day, and maybe, if I was lucky, have a quiet evening to myself. But with Grandpa, nothing was ever that straightforward.

After waiting in the car for what felt like an eternity, I finally saw Grandpa and Timmy approaching. Grandpa had that satisfied look on his face, the one he always got when he managed to do exactly what he wanted, no matter what anyone else said. I sighed, trying to push down the frustration bubbling up inside me.

The ride to the house was surprisingly quiet—at least as quiet as it could be with Grandpa in the car. Every few minutes, he'd try to offer me a piece of the steak he had insisted on buying, despite my repeated refusals. "You sure you don't want some, Amber?" he'd ask, holding out the greasy bag as if he hadn't heard me say no the first hundred times.

"Grandpa, I don't want any steak," I said for what felt like the thousandth time, trying to keep my voice calm. I wasn't sure how much more of this I could take. My patience was wearing thin, and all I wanted was to get home and escape into the solitude of my room, far away from Grandpa's antics and the constant comparisons to Graham.

Finally, we pulled up into the family house's parking lot, and I could practically feel the tension in my shoulders start to release. The sight of the familiar stone façade never looked so inviting. I've never been so happy to see the house, and the urge to just bolt out of the car was overwhelming.

I didn't even wait for Timmy to open the door for me. The moment the car came to a stop, I reached for the handle and pushed the door open, feeling a small sense of relief as the cool evening air hit my face. I could hear Timmy moving to open Grandpa's door, but I was already halfway out, my mind focused solely on getting inside and away from everything.

As I stepped out, I caught a glimpse of Grandpa, who was slowly getting out of the car, still holding that ridiculous steak bag like it was some kind of trophy. I could feel my irritation simmering again, but I quickly pushed it down. There was no point in letting it fester. Grandpa was going to do what he wanted, no matter what I said.

I hurried around the car, my heels clicking against the pavement as I moved toward the front door. I could hear Grandpa chuckling behind me, probably amused by my eagerness to get away. But I didn't care. I just needed space, time to cool off and maybe, if I was lucky, forget about this entire day.