Marry the Night

Chapter 2

"Ready?"

I glanced around Granule one last time to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Randy had left both I and Rosie to lock up and I took that job very seriously. The counter was wiped clean along with the oak wooden tables now smelling of a fresh lemon. The framed photographs on the walls taken from places around Chicago, had been wiped down to diminish any remaining finger prints, mostly of curious little children.

I gave a quick nod of confirmation to Rosie "Let's go". I followed her out of Granule, pulling at the door a few times to ensure it was locked. The slight January chill caused the hairs on my arms to rise, and I wrapped my second hand leather jacket around me tighter.

"I got the heating fixed" Rosie said smiling giddily "About time right?"

I only smiled in response jumping into the passenger seat of her Cherry Chevrolet before buckling in and fiddling with the radio. Rosie was parked on the high street a few stops away from Granule, and I enjoyed watching the many pedestrians even at 5: 30pm on a Sunday evening. I was glad we closed early on Sundays as I'd just remembered the essay I had yet to finish.

"Dinner at mine?"

I hesitated "I don't know Ro"

She shot me a look of exasperation "We both know you're in need of a nice plate of hearty food"

"The lasagne does sound nice..." I trailed off trying not to salivate as I remembered Rosie's grandmother's Italian roots.

Rosie pulled out of her parking spot and speeded in the opposite direction of my home "Of course it does, nothing is better"

"Nothing is also better than finishing a 5,000 word thesis on cognitive development" I countered.

"Ew" Rosie muttered "I can't stand Psychology". It had been my dream to become a psychologist for a long time. I'd always wanted to know why people did things, why people thought in certain ways. Why my mother killed herself.

"I love it" I replied truthfully as we neared the home Rosie stayed in with her grandmother "It's refreshing".

"And expensive" Rosie added reversing into the driveway. I couldn't disagree with that point, I could barely keep up with anything anymore. Granule was my only stable job as I couldn't handle anything extra. I was two weeks late on my rent and had a load of extra books to order for my next module.

I followed Rosie out of her car and stared up at the familiar small house big enough to accommodate them both. The white picket fence had me smiling and the bright red door in comparison to the mahogany of the rest of the street gave it a homely feel.

Rosie twisted the key in the lock "I'm home grandma!"

Meryl Adams stepped out of the kitchen and gave a big smile "Oh and you brought my dearest Aurora"

I smiled at the 68 year old and stepped forward wrapping my arms around her "Hey Grandma Meryl".

"It's been a long time, where've you been?"

I laughed "Its been two weeks".

Grandma Meryl looked unfazed "That's a long time in my eyes".

The smell of cooking had Rosie break into our small chat "When's dinner?"

"About now" Grandmas Meryl replied motioning for us to follow her into their small dining room and kitchen.

The table was already set, and I smiled softly as I took a seat on the round dining table for four. I always looked forward to these evenings, the sense of belonging I felt was nothing in comparison to the lonesome takeaways and stale sandwiches I would endure during some nights of the week.