Another Pair Of Eyes: Love is Not Blind

CHAPTER 30

December 2, 2019

"Wow, Em, you need to open up a shop here. This fudge was perfect. I am impressed." I had improved on making several flavors of fudge since my lesson from Joe at the Sugar Shack. I had a new flavor baking in the oven.

"Thanks, Grammy, I have put that lesson from the chef to good use." We had arrived home yesterday from Knoxville. I enjoyed the holiday, but I couldn't think of anything else except seeing Hank again. We had been texting off and on since that night on Beale Street. Most of it had been for planning my visit with Eric. Hank had worked tirelessly with the attorney to get the proper paperwork filed and to make sure Eric would even see me first. I had no idea if he would really be willing too, especially since he had never reponded to my letter. To my surprise, the attorney got back to Hank the next day that Eric wanted to see me.

I had a lot of hope for this meeting. This would be my opportunity to reconnect with Eric and to put to rest a lot of past demons. I had confidence that I would not be paralyzed by the power of Eric's persuasions. As a child I had been overwhelmed by his ability to manipulate me through his words. Even now, as an adult, it had taken a lot for me to feel I could stand up to him. Hank and Grammy had instilled confidence in me I had not had prior, that would allow me to stay strong with him. I was actually getting more and more excited about the meeting.

Throught he lawyer we had found out that Eric had been a model prisoner. Because of that and that I was his sister, they had agreed to let me meet with him in a visitor's room, face to face. There would be an officer in the room for my protection but I was no longer the ten year old girl terrified in the tree. Eric wouldn't ever hurt me again.

"Hank is here!" Grammy shouted from the living room. I jumped up and almost ran over her to get to the door. Calm down, Em, don't freak him out!

Hank opened the door and Grammy seemed as excited as me; she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek and then pinched them. I played it much safer, settling for a hug. Hugs are windows into the status of the relationship. The hug that consisted of the patting on the back was a telltale sign that the relationship was solely platonic. Em, grow up; you are not a love-struck teenager here!

Hank embraced me fully, with the confidence that only comes from familiarity and security. I had no idea what he felt for me, but it was undeniable that we had a strong chemistry and closeness that had developed over the briefest of encounters. Those encounters had been magnified by the intensity of the connection--- Eric and Grammy.

I forgot in that moment that Grammy was in the room, until she put her arms on our backs. "Oh it is so good to have you both here." We turned to both hug Grammy in a group hug. Her house had become our own safehaven. When we were together at Grammy's house, time felt like it stood still and nothing could upset our utopia.

"Do I smell... Em is that your fudge?" Hank had his nose in the air sniffing loudly, using his nose like a GPS to the kitchen. I had just pulled the pumpkin pie spice fudge out of the oven to cool.

"Hank, you will have to tell me what you think of my newest creation. I have been on a fudge binge since the lesson with Joe. I have gotten pretty good, if I say so myself." He nodded in agreement and stuck his hand out to test my effort, but I playfully slapped it away.

"No, no... not yet. It needs thirty minutes to cool. Remember, Joe said that was a must for perfect fudge. Hank instead made his way to Grammy, who had a batch of cookies ready for him.

"This is not a bad consoltation prize!" Hank inhaled a few cookies before grabbing a glass of milk.

We all sat down in the living room and talked about Thanksgiving. Hank had spent it with Dean and Jackie. I wanted to meet them. They sounded like an incredible couple. Grammy glowed as she recounted our time in Knoxville. She seemed twenty years younger since reconnecting with my mom and me. Even though Eric's crime and Pappy's death had taken their toll on her, she had rebounded welll and had found peace.