Granny smiled and shut the door. “There isn’t anyone here but me. It’s not hurting anything.”
They headed back to the main floor where Granny was off on a different tangent. “When I get old, I’m going to stay down here.” She walked through a room that was currently being used as a study. “This will be my bedroom, and the laundry is down the hall.”
Sondra had to bite her lip on a giggle. When is she going to be old? Sondra wondered.
Chapter Sixteen, Hospitality
As they walked into another room, Granny said, “I’d offer to let you play pool, but I’m making potpourri.”
Sondra stared at the ornate carved wooden table. Green slate poked out occasionally around a cover of newspapers. On top of the paper, rose petals―thousands of them―perfumed the air. Her eyebrows went up. “Where did you get them?”
Granny grinned. “Oh, my grandkids send me a lot of flowers.” When Sondra glanced at Zack, she could tell by his look that he was as shocked by the announcement as she was. After a pause, Granny continued, “Kidding. I cut the dead flowers off my rosebushes and most of the neighbors. I dump the petals here and boil the rosehips for rosehip jelly.”
“Aren’t you supposed to wait until the first frost to pick the rosehips?” Sondra asked.
“Yeah. That. It’s true I don’t really keep the rosehips until they turn colors. I guess it’s after the frost. I don’t always remember those things. It doesn’t seem to impact my jelly much. I’ll get some for you.”
Sondra snuck a look at Zack, who was valiantly biting back a laugh.
As they stepped into the dining room, Sondra was astounded. The entire table was stacked. Papers, projects, and an occasional unwashed dish shared the surface. Granny walked over to the table and shoved some things aside to make room. “Make yourself at home. I’ll go grab some toast so you can try that rosehip jelly.”
Sondra’s eyes were wide with horror as she caught Zack’s amused expression. In a theatrical whisper, he said, “It’s really not that bad. I promise.”
He pulled up a chair and helped her settle into a spot before he disappeared into the kitchen to help Granny.
Her entrance almost required trumpets. She carried a clear jar of what looked like golden red honey balanced on a white cloth bordered with elaborate needlework. Zack followed with three plates stacked under slices of toast.
As they were eating, Sondra said, “I confess I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve heard of rosehip jelly, but I haven’t ever tasted it. This is really good. Is it your own recipe?”
“It came from my grandmother. It was a treat saved for special occasions, but from what I’ve read, the rosehip is an excellent source of Vitamin C. I prefer to get my vitamins naturally, and this tastes a lot better than any vitamin I ever tried.” Granny nibbled daintily on half a slice of toast.
“I have to agree with you there.” Sondra dabbed at her mouth with a paper towel Zack had grabbed from somewhere in the table stack.
“Thanks for the treat, Granny.” He stood up to hug his grandmother. “We wanted to know if you’d like to go out to lunch with us.”
“Goodness. Had I known you were gonna ask me to lunch, I wouldn’t have served my jelly. Do you think you’d have room for anything?”
“It was just a couple of pieces of toast. That’s an appetizer. Where would you like to eat?”
“There’s a new steakhouse I’ve been wanting to try.”
“How come you haven’t?”
“I’ve been too busy.”
As Sondra reflected on the amount of artwork that filled the studio upstairs, she could see Granny wasn’t exaggerating.
“Can you take time off today?” Zack’s brows drew together in concern.
“Anytime my grandson comes out to see me is a holiday. Of course I can take the day off. There’s always tomorrow. Although I do have to say I’m at the age where I don’t like putting things off. I never know how many tomorrows I have.”
“That’s probably a good idea for anyone. None of us do.” Sondra agreed.
Granny grabbed a large red floppy hat with a matching ostrich feather that waved in the breeze. She donned it with majestic grace, despite her loud print blouse and non-matching leggings. Even though her combat boots worked in her studio, Sondra was surprised she didn’t take a moment to switch foot gear. She tried to catch Zack’s eyes, but he was busy helping Granny into her yellowing fur coat and didn’t seem to notice.
He helped her out the front door and to the car. When he opened the front door, Granny protested. “Oh, no you don’t. Your wife belongs here.” She moved to the back seat, where Zack made sure she was comfortably settled and shut the door.
When they entered the restaurant, Sondra tried to ignore Granny’s huge red hat, but the ostrich feather had a way of settling right under her nose. When they sat down to wait for a table, Sondra made sure she was on the non-feathered side of the hat.
Much to Sondra’s surprise, when the waiter came to pick up their orders, Granny said, “I’d like to see the dessert menu, please.”
“Were you just having dessert?” The waiter was polite.
“No. I want to see what you have.”
“We don’t really have a dessert menu. We bring by a cart after the meal is over.” He replied.
“Bring it over, then.” Granny ordered.
Obediently, the waiter had the dessert cart delivered.
“I’ll have a slice of cheesecake. What did you want, dear?” She directed her question at Sondra.
“Umm.” She looked at Zack, trying to decide how to handle this. He wasn’t any help. He looked like he was enjoying the moment. “I’ll have the key lime pie.”
“Good choice. I haven’t tried this place out, but I’ve never been disappointed in key lime. Zack?”
“I’ll have the cheesecake, too. I want the slice with the cherries.”
The waiter served them all their dessert and then asked, “Did you want anything else?”
“I’ll have the Caesar chicken salad.” Sondra said.
“I’ll have the chicken club sandwich.” Was Zack’s order.
“I’ll have the spinach and artichoke dip with chips.” Granny’s voice was firm.
“The appetizer?”
“No. It will be my meal.”
“But it’s an appetizer.”
“No. My appetizer is the cheesecake. I’ll have the spinach and artichoke dip for lunch.”
“Okay.” His face said the customer is always right―especially little old lady customers with floppy red ostrich hats.
Just before she started eating her cheesecake, Granny pulled out a small white pill. “This is for my diabetes. I figure if I eat an extra pill, I can eat some sugar.”
Sondra blinked, and then said, “Whatever works for you. At your age, no one can tell you how to live.”
“I wouldn’t listen if they tried.” She swallowed her pill and then dug into her cheesecake as if it was the best thing she’d ever tasted.
The food was good, but it was the constant and varied chatter from Granny that made the meal an event. She seemed to know a little about everything, and she didn’t mind sharing.
After spending the afternoon visiting Granny’s favorite sites, including the stairs used in the film “Rocky,” Granny said, “I thought we could do dinner at the Reading Terminal Market.”
“Are you up to it?” Zack asked.
“Of course. I’m still alive, ain’t I?”
Zack chuckled. “Yes, you are. The Reading Terminal it is then.”
They parked close to the terminal and worked their way into the crowds. As they moved through the terminal, Sondra could see why Zack was concerned. The meal was taken pieces at a time at various small booths. It was the crowds that were overwhelming. Zack was careful to work his way ahead of his grandmother so she didn’t have to push and shove as she walked.
They stopped at a small table tucked in next to an ice cream shop. They’d already eaten their
ice cream appetizer and had found a sandwich shop just a couple of aisles over. Granny unwrapped her sandwich and bit it with a relish. “This is the best in the city.”
“You’re only saying that.” Zack chuckled.
Granny stopped chewing and swallowed. “Young man. I have tried every restaurant in town. This is the best. I know.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll take your word for it.” Zack took another big bite. “I don’t have time to visit every restaurant in Philly.”
“Of course you don’t. That’s where you learn to listen to others. And you can start by listening to your old Granny.”
“You know I do.” From her seat next to him, Granny reached over and patted him on the head. Sondra smothered a laugh. She guessed this same scene had been repeated since he was small.
* * *
As Zack was walking Granny to her door, he said, “Sondra and I have a hotel just a few minutes away. We’ll be here in the morning to take you to breakfast.”
Granny stopped and glared up at Zack, her enormous feather swaying with her angry breaths. “You’ll do no such thing, Young Man.”
Zack’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean? Don’t you want to go to breakfast with us?”
“You know breakfast is my specialty. Have you ever come to visit where you haven’t had my waffles?”
Zack shook his head and caught Sondra’s gaze. He looked trapped. He could tell she hadn’t been thrilled by her eating arrangements, but this was his Granny.
She continued as Zack and Sondra tried to communicate telepathically. It wasn’t working very well.
“And furthermore, I’ve never had my family here without them spending the night. I don’t care if you’re on your honeymoon. You can honeymoon just fine in my big house. I won’t bother you.”
Sondra’s eyes grew wide. Her alarm wasn’t lost on Zack. He had to make a quick decision on his own and hope Sondra would go along. “We wouldn’t want to miss your waffles, Granny. Of course we’ll stay here. You’re right. We always do.”
“Why on earth you would go and get yourself a hotel when I have all this space is beyond me. You go call that hotel place and tell them you won’t need a room tonight. Go ahead.”
She watched carefully as a reluctant Zack pulled out his cell phone and dialed the hotel. “Hello. This is Zack Carlson. I had a room for two reserved for tonight…” Sondra wondered if the hotel clerk was looking at the reservation and seeing two separate rooms, not one room for two. Hopefully, he’d just think Zack had misspoken.
“And tell them you won’t need it as long as you’re here in Philly.” Granny insisted loud enough to be heard the next block over. And they were big blocks.
“And we won’t be needing the rooms again.” Zack talked a bit longer and then shut the phone. This time, Sondra hoped Granny didn’t pick up on the plural.
“Granny, I need to go grab our things from the hotel. We’ll be back in a few minutes.” Zack assured her.
“Take your time. But make sure your time isn’t any longer than an hour. I want you to watch my favorite episode of ‘Conspiracy Theory’ tonight.”
“I thought that show was cancelled.” Sondra said.
“Oh it was. I like watching re-runs.”
Sondra managed to stop an eye roll. Joy. She thought. Reruns of “Conspiracy Theory.” Just how I want the night to end.
While they were driving back to the hotel, Sondra turned to Zack. “Isn’t there some way around this?”
“You saw Granny. What do you think?”
Sondra chewed her lip a moment. “I suppose we can make it through a couple of nights at her house. Did you tell her when we were flying out?”
“No. But knowing Granny, she’ll just make it her business to find out.”
Sondra sighed. “She sure seems to know everything Jade knows.” Unconsciously, she rested her hand on her stomach.
“Well, they’re tight. But still, Granny would’ve made a great lawyer.”
Sondra laughed. “Interrogative investigation is certainly an asset.”
When they arrived with their luggage in tow, Granny was ready for them. “I’m tired. It’s a tad late for me. We can watch my show tomorrow.” Sondra’s heart swelled at the comment. She hadn’t been looking forward to a night with conspiracy theories, although she did wonder which episode was Granny’s favorite.
Granny continued through Sondra’s thoughts, “I’ve made up the master bedroom.” Granny glanced at Zack. “I haven’t slept there since Grandpa died.” He nodded. “I sleep in the room next to my studio. That way, I don’t have to walk as far.”
“You know,” Sondra said, “when Zack told me you and Ibraham had built this home, I wasn’t picturing such a big place.” They talked while Granny led them upstairs and down the hallway.
“It took us years to finish. To tell the truth, there are some spots we never got to.”
Sondra laughed. “That’s quite an admission. Did you have any help with the construction?”
Granny nodded while she opened the door. “My son and a few laborers. Grandpa seemed to know where to find quality men who were willing to work for a reasonable rate and a bite to eat.”
“However way you did it, I’m impressed with your home. It’s beautiful.” Sondra enthused.
“Ibraham was a bit eccentric.” Granny said while she led them into the room with the cherry poster bed.
Sondra couldn’t help the thought It takes one… while Granny continued. “He designed the house himself. He figured if anyone could do it, then he could too.”
“He certainly proved himself right, didn’t he?” Sondra asked.
“He did. Many times. Did Zack tell you about his ranch in Stockton?”
“Actually, that’s how we met.” Sondra admired the colorful quilt that adorned the bed while they were talking. She had noticed it during their earlier tour. This time, she took the time to examine the stitching, which was even and straight. It almost looked machine stitched, but an occasional stitch was just enough off to indicate the hand that had put it there. She caught Granny’s eyes. “Did you make this?”
“Jade said something about that.” Granny addressed Sondra’s first comment and then continued to answer her second. “That quilt was made by my grandmother from scraps she gathered after her kids outgrew their clothes. Isn’t it beautiful?” She patted the quilt and then continued the thought she had stepped out of. “Ibraham inherited the Stockton ranch from his maternal grandmother and liked to spend summers there.”
“That must’ve been fun.” Sondra touched the old fabric and then smiled at Granny.
“I didn’t go.” Granny admitted. “I have no interest in ranches. I had too much I wanted to do here. It was a nice break for us. How does the song by Chicago go?” Granny drew her brows together trying to remember the words and then continued, “Ibraham spent the summers in Stockton while I would work on my art here. I would go out for a couple of weeks to spend with Mitch and his family while they were visiting.”
“I’ll bet that made for some fun memories for all of you.” Sondra paused and then continued, “Did you ever hold an art show?”
“Several, but it’s very hard to break into the art world.”
“I can’t imagine.” Sondra said.
“It’s always been more of a hobby for me.”
“Based on the art I saw,” Sondra waved in the direction of the studio, “you’ve certainly worked hard enough for it to be more than a hobby.”
Granny was quiet a moment and then nodded. “Many hobbies can be time consuming. It’s important to find something you want to leave for the world. I found that, and it keeps me active and involved.”
“What a blessing for you.” Sondra smiled.
“It has been.” Granny walked over to another door and opened it wide. “This is the master bath. I haven’t changed anything since Ibraham died. I hope you’re comfortable here. Call if you need me. My room is on the other end of the hall.” Granny waved and closed the bedroo
m door behind her with a decisive click.
Sondra inspected the basic bathroom. She opened the medicine cabinet and was surprised to find a variety of colognes and a boar bristle brush settled into a hardened soap. “Is that your grandfather’s?” She turned to Zack.
He nodded. “He never switched to shaving cream. He said nothing works the same as the old shaving soap.” He ran his hand over his almost non-existent stubble. “Not that he owned a lot of whiskers. I inherited my facial hair from him. Cherokee on his mother’s side.”
“I thought I saw American Indian in your face.”
“You were right. It does cause problems with genealogy. We haven’t been able to find any written records a few generations back.” Zack sat on the bed and removed his shoes.
Sondra hissed, “Are you really going to sleep in here?”
“Why not? It’s comfortable. There’s plenty of room for both of us.” He waved his arm indicating the mattress. “I sincerely doubt Granny has changed any of the other sheets in the house since my last visit. She makes an effort to keep this one clean for company. And besides, knowing Granny, she’ll check on us bright and early to make sure the honeymoon lovebirds are content… and still here. Granny would be hurt if we bailed and headed to a hotel.”
“Given the status of our marriage, I’d feel better sleeping in a separate bed.”
“I don’t want Granny hurt. Besides, we have a reputation to keep.” He grinned.
“Jade seems to have taken care of that one.” She sounded bitter.
“Well, it was me that mentioned…”
Sondra held up a hand. “Don’t say it. Just don’t.”
He swallowed. He’d seen too many tears the last few days. He wasn’t fishing for more. “Surely we can humor her a couple of days.”
“You really have been good about this whole event.” Sondra conceded. “I appreciate your support, and I know you’re sacrificing a great deal. I suppose two days won’t be the end of the world. I have one request, though.” She reached for the thick white sheepskin that hung over the back of the oak rocking chair and rolled it up.
“And what’s that?”
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