‘That's when I had the chance to wear it! Your Grandma’s gonna think I’m a gremlin.’
‘She’ll love you. Plus, anyone that saves her dog is going to be top in her book.’
‘Save her dog? Who told you that?’ I look at him bewildered. I never told him.
‘I called Izzy when you were in the shower and she filled me in. Said she didn’t have the heart to wake you up once she was out of the shower.’
‘How embarrassing.’ I drop my eyes to the floor as I feel my cheeks get hot.
‘Well anyway,’ he says, suddenly grabbing my hand. It stings as if an electric current has passed through us. I turn to look at him. ‘Thank you.’ He squeezes my hand.
I might actually pass out from excitement.
‘Are you OK?’ he enquires, his eyes narrowing. ‘Did I hurt your hand?’
Oh God, I must look pained. Not exactly the look I was going for.
‘Um...yeah. It's a bit sore.’ I pull my hand closer to me. It does actually look pretty rough, tiny scratches all over it from climbing the tree.
‘Hurt from climbing trees is it?’ he asks, smiling warmly as he locks his eyes with mine.
‘Y...yeah,’ I slur, drunk from his eyes.
I’m going to kill Izzy. How many embarrassing details did she tell him?
‘Well, here we are.’
He pulls up outside a small, but perfect bungalow painted a welcoming yellow. It’s got hanging baskets full of bright flowers everywhere and has such a perfect front lawn that I wonder if she cuts it herself with nail scissors. This is clearly a woman that likes perfection. Not someone to welcome a gremlin in pink fluffy slippers.
He rushes around to open my door for me and I step out, my stomach contracting with nerves. Suddenly my ankle is not the only thing I’m worried about.
‘Don't worry, you’ll be fine,’ he says, smiling at me, his eyes warm.
He puts Toffee onto the ground and offers me his hand. ‘Come on.’
I give in and take it, trying desperately not to react this time. I let him drag me, limping, towards the house, the warmth from his hand making me feel woozy. I’m already dreading when he’s going to let go.
We walk to the old fashioned front door, with frosted glass and an old knocker with a lion’s head. He knocks just as I notice some balloons tied to a hanging basket.
‘Is it somebody’s birthday?’ I enquire.
At his comical expression I feel the blood draining from my face.
‘Yep – she’s eighty today.’
‘What?’
But it's too late. The door swings open and an old man smiles at us.
‘Hey Teddy,’ Ryan smiles.
‘Hello Ryan, I haven’t seen you in a while! Come through, the party’s still going. Oh and is this your girlfriend?’ he asks smiling warmly at me.
‘No, just a friend,’ he says, smiling arrogantly.
I smile politely but remove it when I see Teddy notice my erect nipples. Why couldn’t I at least have a bra on? Ryan turns to laugh silently at me the minute Teddy’s back is turned, enjoying my misery.
We follow him into the back of the house where there is an open plan kitchen leading onto a conservatory. It's filled with old people drinking sherry as Billy Holiday plays on the stereo.
I don't need to be introduced to Ryan’s Grandma to know which one she is. I can tell straight away. Through the crowds I notice a chubby round faced lady with the same brown curly hair and big brown eyes that he has. She’s quite beautiful for eighty, with only a few laughter lines on her face. She also looks like the kind of person who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. And today I am a fool. Ryan has clearly brought me for the entertainment.
‘Ryan, sweetheart!’ She rushes over, embracing him in a tight hung.
‘Ok Grams, I only saw you this morning,’ he laughs pulling himself away like a moody teenager.
‘Oh, I know, but I’m always happy to see my favourite Grandson. And is this Poppy?’ she asks, smiling warmly at me.
Has he talked about me before now?
‘Hi.’ I lift my hand and awkwardly wave to her. It feels too formal to shake her hand, but now I just feel foolish.
She grabs both my hands, her palms like silk, and steps back to have a good look at me. Paranoia sweeps over me as I notice her perfectly set hair and gold bracelets. I turn to stare at Ryan, a little discomfited at being on display and he looks away, his cheeks seeming a bit flushed too. I don't think I’ve ever seen him embarrassed.
‘Happy birthday,’ I blurt out. ‘And sorry for the way I look. I didn’t know I was coming here,’ I add, disgraced by my outfit.
‘You look lovely dear. Nothing worse than when a girl slaps too much paint on her face. You have natural beauty.’
I blush and instantly warm to her.
‘And I hear you saved my dog today? Come on, I’ll get you a sherry. Oh and I love your slippers.’
* * *
Two hours later and I’ve been introduced to all of her friends, each asking if I’m Ryan’s girlfriend. We’ve talked old films, music, everything! Plus she’s made me a cup of tea in a perfect china tea cup with roses down the side of it. I honestly feel closer to this woman in the last two hours than I do to my own mother. She’s the down to earth mum I always wanted, not the judgemental, trophy mother that I got. She’s even insisted on wrapping my swollen foot up in a bandage and making me several cups of tea, worried I’ll get a cold from being out in the rain.
‘Oh Ryan, I love this song. Dance with Poppy, will you?’ she says, swaying along to the tune.
‘Grams, she might not want to dance,’ he grimaces.
‘Well, you’ll never know until you ask her,’ she smiles encouragingly.
He sighs and rolls his eyes. He turns to me, raising his eyebrows.
‘May I have the pleasure of this dance?’ he asks, bowing in front of me playfully.
I smile at him, then at his Grandma (who insists I also call her Grams). I take his hand to be led onto the dance floor, where a few other old couples have started dancing too.
He takes my right hand into a formal dance pose and puts his other hand round my waist. He’s even taller when we’re this close and my palms tingle from his touch.
‘You know I can't dance properly to music like this. Especially with my foot.’
‘Don't worry, we can just sway,’ he says reassuringly.
He takes my hands and wraps them round his neck, my shaking hands trying to stay still. He starts swaying, his hands generating heat on my waist. It sends tingles of pleasure down my spine and I just want to kidnap him, tie him up and force him to marry me.
‘Your Grandma’s lovely,’ I say smiling over at her as she stares at us.
‘Yeah, and she loves you.’ He looks down at me from under his lashes, his face close. The desperate urge for me to close the little distance between us is overpowering. To grab him and burrow my head deep in his chest.
‘I’m sure she’s like that with everyone you bring here.’ I have to remind myself that I’m not special. That we’re just friends.
‘Yeah,’ he sighs. ‘She probably likes you a bit more than the elephant trainer but a bit less than the brain surgeon. She really thought she was special.’
‘That's good to know,’ I joke back.
The song finishes and he stops dancing, pulling back from me. The loneliness from the distance over shadows me immediately. As if he knows, he continues to hold my hand, leading me back to sit with his Grandma. Once we’re seated, it eventually breaks off.
‘Well, we’d better be going Grams.’
She grabs him and pulls him into a tight embrace. ‘Love you sweetheart.’
‘Love you too.’
He goes off to say goodbye to everyone else and his Grandma turns back to me.
‘Thanks so much for having me,’ I say politely.
‘Thank you for coming dear. It’s so nice to see Ryan with someone whose company he enjoys.’
‘Well, yeah...he’s a good friend.’
That's all he’ll ever be.
‘Yes, for now.’ She grins mischievously at me.
‘Sorry, but do you know something I don't?’ I ask, praying desperately that I don't snort with laughter.
‘All I know is that I know my Grandson. Better than he knows himself and he’s happy. You’re the first girl he’s brought back here since...her. Don't go breaking his heart, mmm?’
She grabs me into a tight hug, almost choking the air out of me, before I can respond. Her? Who is ‘her’?
‘Aah, there you are,’ says Teddy, walking towards me. ‘I want to get your phone number. My Grandson would love you.’
‘Oh...well...I’m really not looking to get into anything right now,’ I stall.
‘Nonsense. You never know when you’re going to be swept of your feet my dear.’
‘Leave the poor girl alone Teddy,’ Grams complains to him.
‘I will, when I get her number,’ he says, insistent.
I begrudgingly type my number into his phone hoping that I’ll never get a call.
When we finally get out of the door it's 10.30pm, but it feels more like midnight, the cold dark sky above us.
‘Here,’ he says, taking off his hooded cardigan and handing it to me. ‘You look like you could do with this.’
I think about what a romantic gesture this is, until he smiles and I realise he’s staring at my erect nipples.