"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not making decisions".–Catherine Cook
*********
After a few minutes, the cue was still far from being over
Emma looked at the old man in front of her who was still standing with enthusiasm
"Grandpa you can tell me what you want and I'll get it for you... Standing too much isn't good for your legs " Emma said
"oh, it's nothing, child... " Grandpa Smith said with a smile
"I insist..." Emma said giving no room for rejection
"ok ok I'll do as you say, child... I want to eat a spicy bowl of bean noodles" Grandpa Smith said and left the cue
After a few minutes of waiting, it was finally her turn she paid for the two bowls of noodles and walked to the elderly man with the tray in her hands
She sat down across from him and handed a chopstick over to him
"thank you, child..." the old man said
"It's nothing..."
"come on... Eat before it gets cold and you won't enjoy it then" Grandpa Smith said
"Grandpa I advise you to refrain from eating spicy food it isn't good for your health and it might end up causing you severe heartburn," Emma said
"nonsense I'm still very healthy and fit a mere noodle can't cause me any harm " he said proudly lifting his chin proudly
"you're nagging like my grandson that punked brat never let me eat anything I want" Grandpa Smith said making Emma laugh at his childish expression
" you told me to call you grandpa and you won't listen to your granddaughter's wishes" Emma pouted
"ok ok child I'll listen to you but I want to eat this bowl since it's going to be my last" Grandpa Smith said pitifully
"come in Grandpa, don't be sad I'm doing it for your good " Emma said
They ate their food happily and Emma looked at the childish old man in front of her
If only she knew that the person she was calling childish was a retired general she would not dare think such...
" girl Emmy you paid for my food as well? "
"yes Grandpa... Look there the ice cream store is still open let's get ice cream to cool off" Emma said without giving him the chance to thank her
They ate the ice cream together
And talked for a while "Do you have a boyfriend Emmy's child " Grandpa Smith asked
"no, I don't Grandpa" Emma replied
"hmm " Grandpa Smith nodded in satisfaction he was about to say more but Emma's phone rang cutting him off
"yes mum.... I'll be back in 5 minutes"
"yes everything is fine you don't need to worry... Ok ok, I'll be back soon " Emma said and hung up the phone... She looked at grandpSmithth
"come Grandpa let me hail a taxi so that you can get home" Emma said
"Don't worry my grandson is coming to pick me up" Grandpa Smith said with a smile
"ok bye Grandpa... " Emma said as she ran
"but Emmy child... You didn't give me your number" Grandpa Smith said but unfortunately, Emma ran far ahead and didn't hear what he said
"such a good kid... She would be good for my Alex "Grandpa Smith mused
Emma went home that day and narrated the whole story to her mum who told her to be careful....
**********
The present
"what are you doing with Grandpa Smiths' picture," Emma said making Alex raise a knowing brow at her
As if she just realised something she gasped loudly covering her mouth in shock
"Grandpa Smith.... Alex Smith..... Grandpa Smith is your grandpa?! " Emma exclaimed
"oh you finally realized," Alex said sarcastically receiving no reply from Emma who seemed to be thinking about something
They looked at Alex confusedly and asked
"but what does Grandpa Smith have to do with our present conversation" Emma titled her head to the side
"This man was brought home from the hospital today and he claims that he will die soon...he said that his last wish is to see his granddaughter-in-law," Alex said
"Grandpa Smith is sick?"
"What happened to him... He looked fine a few days ago" Emma said
"Last week Wednesday night I was still at the office, I received a call from him and he told me to pick him up... he suddenly asked me to investigate a girl called Emerald... I did as he said and found out that it was you but I didn't understand the reason he asked me to investigate you... I told him that you work for me and he said nothing then Thursday, I received a call from the hospital... When I got there, the doctor said that he was suffering from severe heartburn he was treated but he had to stay under observation... "
"heartburn? I warned him about this it must be because of that spicy bean noodle" Emma said
"he has been suffering from an ulcer for a very long time so we stopped him from eating spicy food but who knew that he would go to an open restaurant to eat spicy noodles He was discharged today and he requested me to marry you... My grandpa has never asked me for anything and this is the first favour he asked me so please help fulfil the old man's wish" Alex said
'since I've known this iceberg I have never heard him say the word please... He must love his grandpa' Emma thought
"ok I'll marry you on one condition" Emma said
"I'm listening," Alex said
"We must go and see my mum on Saturday and we're gonna say that we've been dating for a long time and we love each other but you must not say anything about your background I can't hide the fact that I'm married from my mum " Emma said
"is that all" Alex asked
"Nobody apart from our families should know that we are married and you need to assure my mum that you can take care of me," Emma said
"ok but why do you want to hide our marriage..... Or do you have a boyfriend " Alex asked
"no I don't have a boyfriend but I do have dreams that I want to achieve on my own" Emma said
"ok... If that's all. Let's go and register the marriage" Alex said
"is the courthouse open by this time..why don't we go tomorrow " Emma said
"hmm ok then you can move your bags to my house afterwards" Alex said
"we're living together? " Emma asked dazedly
"Aren't we husband and wife... "
Alex said and leaned toward her and now their faces were so close that any slight movement from any of them, their lips would touch
"Or are you afraid that I'll eat you whole " Alex said with a mischievous smirk playing on his lips
At this point,Emma was as red as a tomato and if a hole appeared she wouldn't hesitate to jump in