Tessie strides into the game room, her face beaming with joy. As she approaches Mike, she leans in and plants a tender kiss on his lips. He reciprocates by wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close. Meanwhile, Cain busies himself with racking up the pool balls, his movements quick and deft. Suddenly, Mavis hobbles into the room, her weathered face creased with a wry smile. “Surprised the record player still works,” she quips, her voice raspy and dry.
The upbeat melody of Runaround Sue by Dion fills the room and Mavis can’t help but sway to the rhythm, her body moving slowly on the spot. A smile spreads across her face as the music takes hold of her. We all share a chuckle at her joyous display.
“Go on, Nan,” Tessie laughs, encouraging Mavis to let loose.
Mike, feeling the infectious energy in the air, walks over to Mavis and extends his hand towards her. “My lady,” he says with a grin. Mavis takes his hand, her eyes shining with happiness, and they dance together.
Tessie begins to dance in place, moving to the rhythm. Cain and I nod to the old music, enjoying the upbeat tempo. Cain then extends his hand to Tessie and they sway together. The lively song spreads joy throughout the room. Left without a dance partner, I observed everyone’s moves while rhythmically snapping my fingers.
Mike and Mavis are spinning slowly and Mavis can’t help but let out a joyous laugh as she twirls around. I notice Cain and Tessie’s bodies getting closer as they dance. The passion between them was evident as their eyes locked in together. Their heads touching, nearly kissing. Mavis catches on and watches them momentarily, taking in the intensity of their gaze towards each other. She then looks back at Mike and attempts to dance again, but her eyes wander over to Cain and Tessie. It is clear that they have forgotten for a moment that they were not meant to be together. I knew I had to do something.
I notice Tessie’s hand on Cain’s shoulders. I quickly rush over to them, gently take her hand off, and pull her towards me. I start dancing in a lighthearted and playful manner. Tessie starts giggling and soon joins in the dance with enthusiasm. I also notice Mavis chuckling, although she seems a bit perplexed by what is happening. Nonetheless, she continues dancing with Mike, and we all enjoy the fun and joyful atmosphere of the moment.
The room is filled with the sound of music as we dance to the beat. The song slowly comes to an end and we all stop dancing. Mavis breathes heavily and says, “Oh, it’s been years since I’ve danced like that. Thank you, Mike.” She then looks at her watch, realizing the time, and exclaims, “Is that the time? I’m going to be late for bingo.”
Tessie offers to drop Mavis off. However, Mavis declines the offer, saying, “It’s okay, dear. I’ll take my car. I’ll be back in about two hours and then start dinner.” She leaves the room and we all wave goodbye.
We gather around the pool table, our faces illuminated by the soft glow of the overhead light.
“You two were showing a bit too much affection in front of Mavis then...” I state.
“Think she caught on?” Tessie asks.
I shrug my shoulders.
The conversation then shifts to the day’s adventures. We recount how we took the ATVs into the forest and discovered a hidden treehouse. Suddenly, Cain leaves the room and returns with a dark green teddy bear. Tessie’s eyes light up as she grabs the bear off him. “Spinach!” she exclaims, hugging the stuffed animal tightly.
We all look at each other in amusement.
“You called the bear Spinach?” Mike asks. Cain’s faint scoff is heard in the background.
“Yes, I called the bear Spinach, because he is green.”
We can’t help but laugh at her. A moment of silence follows and then Cain breaks it by explaining how we stumbled upon the notebook she used as a diary. Cain reveals that he knows how she lost her virginity.
Tessie’s cheeks turn rosy as she places the teddy bear on the pool table. “That’s so embarrassing,” she mutters.
“Two minutes, huh?” Cain says with a sly grin.
We listen as she recounts the story of how she had lost her virginity to someone named Brayden.
“Anyway, enough about that. It’s awkward, haha,” Tessie says, shrugging it off.
She then proceeded to share some information she had learned that day. She reveals that her mother has been deceiving her for years and her grandmother has been silently supporting them.
Mike tenderly wraps his arm around her shoulder, offering comfort as she begins to speak. With a hint of sadness in her voice, she confesses how foolish she feels for having missed out on so many years with her beloved nan. She explains how her mother had poisoned her mind against her grandmother, causing her to hate her and avoid her at all costs. Holding onto Mike’s hand, she looks up at him with tearful eyes, hoping for solace. With a reassuring smile, Mike nods in understanding and compassionately replies, “Hey, all that matters is that you know the truth now and are spending time with her now. That’s all that counts.”
CHAPTER
EIGHTEENTESSIE
As the days pass, I find myself becoming more and more attached to this place. The tranquil surroundings and the warmth of the people here have made it feel like home. My bond with my dear nan has grown stronger with each passing day and it warms my heart to see her happy. Nate, with his handyman skills, is a great help to my nan in fixing things around the estate.
On this beautiful day, the sun is shining bright and the air is filled with the sweet scent of hyacinths. My nan and I decide to bask in the sun’s warmth and sit outside in the garden. She has a cozy blanket on her lap and I have my sunglasses on. We sip our tea and take in the beauty of the garden.
In the distance, Cain and Mike are busy tinkering with the ATVs. Even though they are talking away, they are too far for us to hear their conversation. Suddenly, Mike spots us and waves excitedly. My nan waves back at him, and in response, Cain smirks at me.
My nan seems to notice Cain’s attention towards me and whispers, “He likes you, my dear.”
I am taken aback by her statement and ask her to repeat herself. She says, “Cain. I can see it in his eyes. The love…”
I am at a loss for words.
My grandmother fixates her gaze in the distance, watching Cain intently. “It’s not common for a man to look at a woman in that way unless he is deeply in love,” she says to me, her tone pensive. “The way you two were dancing and looking at each other the other day reminded me of how your grandad used to look at me. It feels like a long time since I’ve seen that kind of love in someone’s eyes.” I remain silent, unsure of what to say in response.
I bring the warm cup of tea to my lips. I take a slow sip, feeling the liquid soothe my throat. My nan breaks the silence, her voice low and gentle. “It’s ok, my dear. I will say no more,” she says, her eyes closing as she basks in the sun’s warmth. I remain quiet, lost in thought, watching Cain and Mike in the distance. My mind races with a million thoughts, each vying for attention as I try to make sense of everything around me.
I shift the conversation, “Nan, I really can’t apologize enough for not being here and seeing you in recent years,” I confess, my voice heavy with remorse.
My grandmother adjusts herself in her chair and leans toward me, her eyes softening with understanding. With a gentle gesture, she reaches out for my hand, a silent reassurance in her touch. “Don’t be silly, my dear,” she says, her tone filled with warmth and affection. “You are here now and that means the world to me. Having you around the estate, even briefly, brightens my days in ways you can’t imagine.”
I glance over at Mike and Cain in the distance, my words caught in my throat for a moment. Turning back to my nan, I hesitate before speaking. “Nan, this is going to be a bit of an odd question.”
Nan follows my gaze with a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, go on, dear. I’m sure I’ve heard stranger,” she encourages, her tone laced with curiosity.
“Do you ever regret anything you have done in your life? Do you wish you could have changed anything?”
“I wouldn’t have changed my life in any way, my dear,” she declares, her voice carrying a quiet strength. “You are only here for one lifetime. Do what makes you happy and fuck what people think.”
