Her Name is...

Chapter 5

Something was wrong because when I finally finished work and went up to the house my grandma was still up. She was sitting in a rocking chair and staring out the window with two cups of tea steaming beside her. It was a peace offering.

Slowly I went and sat beside her taking the warm cup into my hands.

"Thanks Nana" I said curling my knees into my chest.

"You're a smart girl Noelle just like your mother, I don't give you enough credit for that. But I see so much of her in you and it scares me sometimes" she began

"Oh Nana I-"

"- I did what I thought was right. I got married to a nice man, I settled down in his hometown raised a child. Look at me, I'm 43 and I have 3 grandkids- two of which I've never even met. Kathy, she broke your grandpa and I. She was good girl, high grades, she didn't go out to parties that often, she worked the bakery, cheered in her spare time and she was a shoe in for university. And when she left we realized we had nothing in common any more" my grandma started. I could feel the familiar sting of tears in my eye sockets as she told her story.

"But you. How I have made you feel? I can never forgive myself for that. Because you work so hard Noah, you work so hard, and your so young and your allowed to make mistakes. And your allowed to do things without being compared to your mother. And Kathy, she did a good job with you. She raised you to be smart and independent and the beautiful granddaughter you are today. We may have our differences your mom and I, but you turned out just perfect"

I had no words to give her. I only set down my tea and crawled into her lap as if I were a child again crying into her shoulder. Where she rocked me back and forth until I had no tears left.

I grabbed both of the empty tea mugs and put them into the sink ready for bed tonight when it caught my eye.

"Nana, why is that coat here?" I asked looking at the green jacket leaning over the kitchen chair.

"Your friend Harry, dropped it off. Said you'd forgotten it" she said. I felt my heart drop, Harry had been by? After that fateful morning when my grandma yelled at him.

She was shuffling away to bed, "Nana, what did you say? What did he say?" I questioned her.

She turned around smiling, "you've got it bad dear" she teased me. It was odd how comfortable she was with him now, seeing as the last time she had spoken to him it was her yelling at him.

"Nana!" I exclaimed.

"He came by, dropped it off and said you'd need it. Told me he was leaving in a few days, and that his mum had invited you to dinner"

I felt my heart thumping, what did he mean I would need the coat? Why was he telling my grandmother about Holmes Chapel.

"I'd have to stay the night, and borrow the car, and miss work" I told her.

With another hefty sigh she placed her hands on my shoulder.

"That boy is very keen on you, I think he fancies you inviting you to meet his mum. I'd be willing to let you go, but this takes a lot of trust" she said pointedly.

I nodded eagerly. "I'll make up for missed shifts I swear" I told her, she laughed.

"You'd better. And, I know your mother is very open about things... so I don't have to give you the talk do I?" she asked.

I choked on my own tongue, I did not want to talk about that with her. "No" I sputtered out.

"So... be safe-"

"NANA I'VE NEVER BEEN KISSED!" I shouted. She stopped talking and her mouth fell open.

"Oh, oh. Okay. I'm just gonna-"