Chapter 143 Lunch With Nana Joyce
Kristen's POV
Today is my first time alone with Nana Joyce, she requested I have lunch with her earlier, and I couldn't say no to her. She's Calhoun's grandmother, after all, I ought to learn from her. The old me would have been unsettled when she made the offer but this new me is more than glad to sit and dine on the same table with her.
We've never had enough time to sit down and discuss, we only saw each other during events and parties and exchanged pleasantries. Although I knew she was very uptight and strict.
After feeding Aiden the last of his milk, I put him in a baby carrier and advance towards the large dining hall.
Nana Joyce is already seated at the table when I show up. And it seems like she made the servants outdo themselves because the table has a little feast set up for lunch.
"When was the last time you heard from your mother?" Calhoun's grandmother barely waits for me to sit before bringing this up.
"On the day I gave birth to Aiden," a slight frown threatened to take over my face upon hearing this but I am quick to mask it.
"You had the servants bring her from the dungeon?" Nana Joyce puts her hand on her chin and stares at me with caution.
My hands move to adjust the baby carrier so Aiden will feel settled in it. He's so small, so any slight thing can cause him bruises.
"You're yet to reply me, Kristen," Nana Joyce continues in a firm tone, her gaze serious.
And a small sigh rolls from my chest.
"To your question, no. Calhoun would never agree to that. He isn't even aware that I paid my mom a visit."
Nana Joyce inclines her head forward towards me as her eyes spark up with interest.
"So, a few hours after bringing Aiden into this world, you went to visit Natalie?" She raises a brow.
The old me would have been intimated by this woman, but not anymore. She might have used an iron fist on Calhoun as his only guardian, but it doesn't mean I have to go out of my way to please her with my responses to her questions.
"Yes," I say at last.
Just as I was thinking she would drop the conversation and bring up a new topic, she asks, "Why?"
"It's not important, Nana Joyce. I am more interested in knowing why you wanted to have lunch with me." It's my turn to brush this off since I am hanging on my patience because Aiden doesn't properly fit into the baby carrier.
"I heard you haven't started milking," Nana Joyce pops a piece of grape into her mouth, but she doesn't chew. It's more like my response will determine if she'd chew it or spit it out.
"No, I haven't." My face is neutral when I reply.
And she frowns at me as if I committed a terrible act.
"What do you plan to do about that? It's a great issue of concern," Nana Joyce cannot hide the disappointment on her face, and it's rather upsetting. I can't even hide that I am uncomfortable with her questions anymore. It's clear on my face.
"Did you call me here for interrogation or to have lunch with me as your granddaughter-in-law?" I raise a brow at Calhoun's
grandmother.
"What do you mean?" Nana Joyce is a bit taken aback.
"You shouldn't be more concerned about my life than me, Nana Joyce. Aiden is four days old and it's not a bit too late to start
worrying about milking,"
"Do not be disrespectful child, Calhoun never spoke this way to me," she has her eyes widened in utter shock.
"My apologies if that came off rude, it was never my intention. But then again, I shouldn't fake things all in the name of pleasing you." I don't even know where the courage is coming from.
"I thought you were quiet, frail, and naive," Nana Joyce says after a slice of silence.
"Calhoun told you that?" I blink.
"No, he didn't. The first time I saw you, you could barely stand up for yourself. But now, you're just..."
"Different?" I finish for her, raising a brow.
"What happened to you, child?" Nana Joyce utters in dismay.
"I realized I have more than a lot on my shoulders. With Aiden here, and the Luna's trial tomorrow. Slacking isn't allowed anymore." I point out without letting my voice waver.
"Are you interested in this lunch?" Nana Joyce toys with the grapes once more. The whole food on the table remains untouched because I
haven't eaten anything from it.
"You asked for me to join you, I couldn't disobey," I adjust Aiden's carrier once more, just to steal a quick glance at him to see if he's
fine.
"Do you know anything about gardening?" Nana Joyce asks the last thing I expected of her.
I tuck my hair behind my ear and hesitate before replying.
"Well, I'll learn if I am taught," I give out a slight shoulder shrug.
"Then work with me," Calhoun's grandmother demands.
Fifteen minutes later, both Nana Joyce and I are gardening. While Calhoun's grandmother is pruning the rose bushes with the gardening shears, I am gathering the rose bushes so the servants can dispose of them.
I couldn't put Aiden behind me because he's still so small, so I have him in front of me in the baby carrier. Since the incident last night, I haven't let any of the servants carry my child anymore.
"The last time I trimmed the rose bushes was twenty years ago, and Calhoun worked with me. I never had a daughter or a granddaughter.
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"It must have been tough for you," my voice is low.
"Yes, and things got worse when Calhoun grew up and became Alpha. He put the servants at my beck and call and wouldn't let me
lift a finger," Nana Joyce makes this known to me.
"You're aging, he doesn't want you stressed out," I say.
And Nana Joyce stuns me by jabbing her gloved fist into my shoulder.
"Did I say anything to upset you," I puff out.
"You just called me old. I don't like being called old because I was
once a young, blooming youth like you," she has a small smile
playing on her lips.
"Sorry about that," I apologize even when I know it's none of my damn business.
And Nana Joyce waves this off.
"There's no need to apologize, I admire your bluntness even though
it seems a bit forced."
I am surprised by her reply.
"Forced?" I blink.
"During my youthful years, my wolf was the most powerful. I could
have been a female Alpha, but something happened and I was forced to marry a man whom I hated," The corners of Nana Joyce's lips
"Calhoun's grandfather, is it?" I ask.
"Yes. And we weren't mates. He killed my mate just so he could get to be with me," Nana Joyce drops this, and a shudder runs through me.
"So you hated him?" I inquire.
"Not for long, he found his way into my heart." Nana Joyce pauses to hold the gardening shears before smiling to herself, "We trained together. Ruled the Greyhound pack as one. We were an unstoppable force.
It's quite refreshing to see Calhoun's grandmother trying to convey her pain with a beam. Although it can be seen in her eyes. Of course,
she misses her husband.
"Then being Luna of the Greyhound pack wasn't so hard for you?" I
inquire.
"I suffered the way I would never wish for my enemy," she tells me
with a low sigh.
And I am left alarmed.
"What?" I blink. "That would be a discussion for another day," Nana Joyce pats my shoulder, before beckoning the servants to fetch her a glass of water.