Chapter 121
Adam's POV:
I walked into the Marlborough Street brownstone and loosened my tie. The living room was noisy. My grandmother sat on the sofa watching Stranger Things, while Amy sat on the rug, glued to her iPad.
Amy glanced up. "Hi, Dad." She immediately looked back down at her game.
Grandma tossed the remote aside. She grabbed my arm and dragged me into the guest bedroom.
"Did you make it official with Maya?" she whispered loudly.
"We’re getting there," I said.
Smack.
She slapped my arm. "Useless!"
I rubbed my arm. "What is all this?" I gestured to the perfectly made bed.
Grandma lifted her chin proudly. "Maya invited me to stay. She even prepared the room for me."
I raised an eyebrow. "She invited you? Really?"
"Of course." She looked away, clearly guilty, and marched out of the room. "I’m hungry."
I shook my head. My plan for a private two-person world was officially dead.
I went to the kitchen. Maya was wearing an apron, flipping a steak in a pan. I took off my suit jacket and rolled up my sleeves.
"I’ll help," I said.
Maya glanced at me. "Wash the vegetables in the sink."
I turned on the faucet. "Do we need to hire a chef or a housekeeper?"
"No," she said firmly. "I’m not working right now. I like doing this. I don't like strangers in the house."
I nodded and continued washing the lettuce.
Dinner was lively. Maya made steak and pasta.
Grandma took a bite and her eyes widened. "Maya, you’re amazing! This is bussin’—way better than someone else's cooking!"
Maya laughed. "Grandma, you’re so hip! You know slang like that?"
Grandma beamed. "Of course! Gotta keep up with you young folks!"
I reached over and took the bowl away from Grandma. "That’s enough. You can’t eat anymore."
Grandma glared at me. "I’m not full."
"You need to accept your age," I said calmly. "You are seventy-eight, not eighteen. Eating too much at night is bad for digestion."
"You dare call me old!" She looked ready to slam the table.
Maya quickly intervened. "Grandma, don't be angry. You are the most energetic lady I know. But Adam is right. Eating less at night helps you live longer."
She smiled warmly. "If you like my cooking, I’ll make it for you every day."
Grandma smiled instantly. "Maya knows how to talk. I love listening to her." She shot me a dirty look.
I continued eating, ignoring her glare.
After dinner, Grandma dragged Maya to the sofa to watch TV. She pointed at me. "Adam, clean up."
I didn't argue. I scraped the plates, loaded the dishwasher, and took the trash out to the alley.
When I came back, Grandma was holding Maya’s hand. "Men cannot be coddled," she told Maya. "You have to order him around. If you don't use him, he gets lazy. A good man must be trained."
Maya bit her lip to hide a smile. She looked at me. Our eyes met. The air felt suddenly thick. She quickly looked back at the TV.
I went to the kitchen and sliced an apple. I sat down next to Maya and poked a piece with a fork, holding it to her lips.
Maya looked at Grandma, then at Amy. She glared at me shyly. "I can do it myself."
She reached for the fork. I pulled it back. "I’ll feed you."
She stared at me, warning me with her eyes. I didn't move. Finally, she sighed and opened her mouth.
"I’m sleepy," Grandma announced suddenly. She stood up and faked a yawn. "I’m going to bed."
Amy stood up too. "Goodnight, Great-Grandma. Goodnight, Mommy, Daddy."
The living room was suddenly empty. Just the two of us.
I moved the apple closer to Maya’s lips. "Don't be shy now. Open up."
She hesitated.
"Open up," I teased. "Or do you want me to feed you with my mouth?"
Maya paused for two seconds. Then she opened her mouth and bit the apple. She chewed aggressively and stared at the TV.
I fed her piece by piece. When the plate was empty, I put it down. I wrapped my arm around her waist. She didn't react. I rested my head on her shoulder.
Still no reaction.
I moved closer. I kissed her neck gently.
Maya gasped and turned her head. I captured her lips immediately.
Her eyes went wide.
I tightened my grip on her waist, deepening the kiss.
When we finally separated, I rested my forehead against hers. My voice was raspy. "Your room or mine?"
Maya pushed me away. "Separate rooms."
She stood up, her face bright red, and ran up the stairs.
"Tsk." I picked up the remote and turned off the TV, feeling frustrated.
The next morning, I went for a run along the Charles River. When I walked back inside, I heard laughter coming from the kitchen. Maya and Grandma were cooking together, chatting happily as Grandma tried to help set the plates.
I smiled slightly at the warmth in the room, then headed upstairs to shower and wake Amy.
After breakfast, Maya grabbed her car keys. "I’m taking Amy to school."
I took the keys from her. "I’ll drive her. It’s on my way."
"Okay," Maya said.
Outside, Amy climbed into the booster seat in my Aston Martin. She buckled herself in.
"Daddy," she said seriously. "Can you drive the silver sports car tomorrow? The convertible?"
I looked at her in the rearview mirror. "You want to ride in a convertible?"
"Yeah!" She nodded.
I turned around to face her. "Let’s make a deal."
"What deal?"
"You and Great-Grandma move back to the Sterling Estate."
Amy leaned back and crossed her arms. Her face went flat. "Never mind. I won't ride in it."
I chuckled. "If you move back, I’ll drive you in a different car every day. When you grow up, I’ll buy you one."
Amy huffed. "I’ll just ask Grandpa to buy me one."
I pressed my lips together. This kid was hard to trick. I started the engine.
I dropped Amy off at Sunny Days Daycare. As I walked back to the car, my phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
I frowned and answered. "Hello."
A voice came through the line. It was strange, yet familiar.
"Adam... it's me."
My face went cold. I hung up the phone immediately.