Chapter 91- At First Sight

"Nana June and Grandpa Beau are coming?" I was surprised at the news.

"Oh yeah they called us this morning. They have been meaning to visit to see you and we mentioned the time off we had right now. So you know your grandfather he booked a flight immediately."

My mother giggled as she recalled the impulsiveness of her father. "So they plan to be here the next couple of days until our vacation ends. I think they fly in tonight so right now we are getting the guest wing situated for them."

No wonder the house was full of people. Normally there would not be someone waiting at the door to take things from me but now it makes sense. "It works out now that the marriage with that other family is not happening. It means more time with us."

I had totally forgotten about Dante. Thankfully he did not try to contact me after our fight. But given that I also was not sure if whether he was planning to stay or just head home at this point. I did not bother to see how he reacted after. 

'I hope he takes the hint.' I resolved myself to not text him or look into him. I needed to ensure I looked completely done with him. 

I also needed to not let anyone have any misunderstandings. "Oh ok, is there anything I can do to help out?" Everyone seemed busy getting the house ready so I was sure there needed to be something done. "Oh no honey everything is pretty settled for now. But your grandpa would love to have those little cookies you make for him."

I was not a strong cook but I did dabble in baking. "But you could make those closer to when they arrive so it is hot and fresh. So for now rest up and I will let you know when they are almost here."

My mom kissed my forehead but I prayed she did not rub my back. It still ached a bit now that the shower from the morning fizzled out the relaxed muscles. "Ok I will rest up for a bit."

I ended up taking a nap to conserve my energy. I changed out of my clothes into my loungewear but put on a thin turtleneck under. I still needed to keep these hidden and my grandpa was very physically affectionate. He liked strong big hugs. So using my heat pillow I normally use for cramps I placed on my lower back to relax the muscles again.

By the time my parents woke me up only an hour had passed. "Ok honey your dad is going to go get them now so did you want to make the cookies still or just sleep. I know you must be nursing a hangover right now."

She rubbed my hair and upper shoulders but I groggily got up instead. "No its ok I can make them lets go." My mom and I headed down and I got busy in the kitchen while she coordinated with my dad on the pickup. 

Normally all three of us would go but considering how late it was my father decided to go alone and get them so we could rest. By the time I took the cookies out of the oven I heard commotion at the entrance of the house. "Where is my ladybug!" I smiled fondly at the nickname my grandfather gave me. He was an outdoorsy man and said when I was little my head reminded him of the back of a ladybug. Little and dainty, shiny and red. So he called me that for as long as I could remember. 

"Grandpa Beau! Nana June! It is so good to see you!" They looked the same as the last time I saw them. Grandpa Beau was a tall and stocky man due to always being outdoors. He had a perpetual tan and salt and pepper hair. He wore hiking shorts and a tee shirt. My Nana wore a similar look with a long sleeve and khaki hiking pants. Her hair was fully white and her skin bright and smooth. Despite being in the sun she did not looked aged up.

I had an apron wrapped around me and I was covered in a thin layer of flour at some parts due to the cookies. I thought it may act as a barrier to stop them from hugging me hard but nothing deterred my grandpa. He lifted me up and spun in a circle. "I missed you! Look at how big you have gotten." I hoped my face was neutral and not twisted in pain.

"Oh honey you have become even more beautiful than before. You are glowing!" I have heard rumors of a glow after sex but I hoped she wasn't thinking in that direction. "Thank you Nana."

"Mom and Dad what about me?!" My mother looked stern but based on the way her lip was quivering she was holding back her smile. "Well how could I ever forget my baby girl. How are you doing sweetie?" The process was repeated while my Dad stood in the corner smiling at his families antics.

"Ooh I smell those cookies. I am famished lets eat so I can enjoy some quality desserts made by my ladybug." The staff took their luggage up while our family made our way to the dining room table.

Food was served and we all ate hungrily. "Now I know we just came from a flight so we are expected to be hungry after traveling but I don't recall ever seeing you lot eat this much." My father took the lead for us. "We had just arrived back from a wedding ourselves which was a bit away from home so we also just arrived too."

"Oh wow who was getting married?" Nana June asked inquisitively.  "My friend Rebecca. The one I have known since elementary school."

"Ahh I see. You kids sure like getting married young, but I suppose it is not different than us old timers I got married to your Nana quite young as well before I left for my deployment." My grandfather had come from a long line of military service members. His family was deeply rooted in many branches and he had a lot of power from not only his time but the connections his family built before him.

That was how my mother got a chance to meet my Dad. Though her background was not simple, compared to the other girls it was very different. She met him when her family was stationed for a bit here in the city at the nearby base. And they hit it off at first sight.