Ink and Heartstrings

66. The Tales We Keep in Love

(Ivy & Levi's POV)

Ivy thinks Grandma Elena smells like old books and wool. Levi says she smells like cookies that forgot they were cookies. Ivy thinks Levi is wrong, but she lets him be wrong sometimes because he is younger by six minutes and that matters.

Grandma Elena sits on the floor today.

This is important.

Grandma normally perches in her chair, reminding everyone "Mind yourself, don't run!" or "Now, watch your step."
But here she is on the rug, knees tucked under her, listening so intently you'd think it was the grandest seat in all of England.

Ivy is telling a story.

Levi is helping.

"Okay," Ivy says, putting her hands on her hips like Mom does when Dad does something silly but annoying. "So. Mommy says when she was small, she was very quiet."

Grandma Elena's eyebrows go up. Just a little.

Levi shakes his head very hard. "No, no. Mommy says she was quiet outside but loud inside. Like a drum."

Ivy nods. "Yes. Like a drum. Boom boom. But no one heard it."

Mom is sitting on the couch behind us, pretending to read but actually listening. Daddy is beside her, smiling like he knows the ending already.

Grandma leans closer. "And who heard the drum?"

"Daddy," Ivy and Levi say together.

Daddy laughs quietly. Mom hides her face in her hands.

Levi climbs onto Grandma's knee. "Daddy says when he met Mommy, she was brave but tired. Like a superhero who forgot to sleep."

"That's true," Daddy says. "Very tired."

Mom throws a cushion at him.

Ivy continues because this is her story and stories are important. "Daddy says Mommy used to think she had to ask for permission to breathe."

Grandma's face does something strange. Like it's folding inward.

Levi doesn't notice. He is busy making his dinosaur fly. "Daddy says love is when you don't have to be small anymore."

Ivy nods very seriously. "Yes. And Mommy says love is when someone sits with you even when your thoughts are scary."

Mom's eyes are shiny now. Daddy reaches for her hand.

Grandma Elena swallows. "And... who told you these stories?"

"Mommy tells us at night," Ivy says. "When we can't sleep."

"And Daddy tells us when Mommy gets sad," Levi adds. "He says, 'Your mom is strong, but even strong people need help.'"

Grandma is very quiet.

Ivy studies her. Grandma looks different than before. Softer. Like when ice cream starts to melt but doesn't drip yet.

"Grandma?" Ivy asks.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Why did you think Mommy's love was bad?"

The room goes very still.

Daddy stops smiling. Mom stops breathing for a second.

Grandma Elena doesn't get mad. That's surprising.

She looks at Ivy and Levi like they asked a big question and they did but not a naughty one.

"I thought," Grandma says slowly, "that love had rules. And if you broke them, bad things would happen."

Levi frowns. "But Mommy says rules are for roads and ovens. Not hearts."

Daddy laughs. Mom lets out a small sob-laugh-cry.

Grandma presses her hand to her chest. "Your mommy is very wise."

Ivy climbs closer. "Did you believe the scary stories people told you?"

Grandma nods. "Yes. I did."

Levi pats her arm, very gently. "It's okay. Daddy says grown-ups learn slower."

Daddy gasps dramatically. "Hey!"

Everyone laughs. Even Grandma.

Grandma pulls us both into her arms. She hugs like she's afraid we might disappear, but also like she finally knows we won't.

"I'm glad," she whispers, "that your mommy didn't believe all the stories I did."

Ivy rests her head on Grandma's shoulder. "Me too. Because then we wouldn't be here."

Levi nods. "And Daddy wouldn't make pancakes in dinosaur shapes."

"That would be tragic," Daddy says.

Mom laughs....really laughs and when Ivy looks back at her, she isn't small at all.

She's exactly where she belongs.

And Grandma Elena?

She's listening now.

Like someone who finally understands the story.