Late to Love

Chapter 27: Family Ties

It was a chilly Wednesday evening when Nina made her way to Rosie's house. The crisp air of late November bit at her cheeks, and she pulled her scarf a little tighter around her neck. The city was buzzing with holiday anticipation, the streets adorned with wreaths and twinkling lights. The weekend before the first Advent had always marked the true start of the holiday season for Nina, and there was no better place to feel that warmth than at her grandmother's cozy brownstone.

As she reached Rosie's doorstep, she could already smell the familiar scent of cinnamon and sugar from freshly baked cookies. A nostalgic smile spread across her face as the door swung open.

"There's my favorite granddaughter!" Rosie beamed, pulling Nina into a tight hug.

"Yeah, yeah, I know you say that to Amanda too," Nina teased, stepping inside. The warmth of the house enveloped her, the soft glow of the fireplace making everything feel just a little bit magical.

Rosie winked playfully. "You're both my favorites in different ways. I've got enough love to go around!"

Nina chuckled, kicking off her boots as she walked into the living room. The space was as welcoming as ever, filled with fairy lights and Rosie's signature plaid blankets. Ralph was sprawled across the couch, an empty plate of cookies on his stomach, while Amanda sat on the floor, engrossed in some kind of holiday craft project.

Ralph glanced up, smirking. "Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence. Miss Too Busy to Call."

Nina rolled her eyes, throwing her coat over the arm of the couch. "I've been working, Ralph. You know, doing that thing where people make money?"

"Uh-huh," Ralph said, lazily tossing a pillow at her. "You've been too busy writing about celebs, I bet. Must be tough keeping up with those deep stories."

"Jealous, much?" Nina shot back, catching the pillow and throwing it back at him.

Amanda grinned from her spot on the floor. "He's just mad because he's not famous."

"Right, that must be it," Ralph said dryly, rolling his eyes. "Fame's always been my goal in life."

Nina settled onto the couch beside him, nudging him with her elbow. "At least pretend to be happy to see me, will you?"

"Oh, I'm thrilled," Ralph deadpanned, though a teasing smile tugged at his lips. "Especially now that I hear you're seeing someone."

Nina froze for a second, her eyes darting to Rosie, who was humming innocently in the kitchen. "Grandma..." she groaned.

Rosie popped her head around the corner, smiling sweetly. "What? I'm just proud of you, darling! You never bring anyone around, so of course I'm going to talk about this new boy."

Ralph's eyebrows shot up, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, new boy, huh? So, what's the deal with this Daniel?"

Nina could feel her cheeks heat up. "There's no deal. We've only hung out a few times. He's... nice."

"Nice?" Ralph teased, leaning back. "Come on, you've gotta give us more than that."

"He runs a local grocery store," Nina said, trying to downplay it. "He's quiet, thoughtful... different from the types I've dated before."

Ralph snorted. "Good. After that disaster with Greg, anything's an upgrade."

Nina's stomach tightened at the mention of Greg. Her ex-boyfriend had left scars, not just emotionally but in how she approached relationships. Greg had been charming at first, but it didn't take long for his controlling tendencies to show through, and by the time she ended things, she was a shadow of her former self.