CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

"Grandma", I start, a tinge of irratation in my voice, John smiled at me, "it is okay Annah, these are valid questions", he said before putting down his cutlery and giving Grandma his full attention. "I am an orphan, I grew up on the streets of Maidstone", John began, "I ran away from the orphanage when I was seven and tried to live selling flowers", John's eyes became wet and darkened as though remembering a difficult memory, but he held his gaze with Grandma, "one day, when I was around eight, my boss, Arther, found me and took me in", John smiled slightly at this memory, "I would help where I could with job sites and he kept a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my stomach, he is basically my family", he speaks fondly, "when I was old enough to do real work on job sites, Arther began paying me a wage, although it is not alot, it is enough to live", John finished, I feel droplets sliding down my cheek and realise I began crying, "it must have been so hard for you", Lisa mirrored my thoughts out loud, I look at her to see she too was teary, "it is all in the past", John said, brushing it off slightly, "my apoligies", Grandma says, and we look to see her with a hand on her chest. John shake his head and smiles, "onto the next questions", John states, "no, I am not married because the person who holds my heart is at this table", he says looking directly at me, "and only she has that right, if she chooses", he states, pouring his heart into his words, my hand flys to my chest, his words causing my heart to race and butterflies in my stomach, he looks back to grandma, who still holds a hand to her chest, "to answer the last question, I do hope to have Annah's hand one day", he smiles confidently. Grandma reached her hand over and grabs John's, "well you certainly have my blessing", she says, smiling from ear to ear, Lisa and I look to each other and smile, before looking back at John, who is now looking at me with adoration.

After we finish dinner, Lisa, John and I, urge Grandma to rest and that we will take care of the clean up, she reluctantly agreed after refusing a few times, her argument being, "you are my guests and you had a long trip", her argument was met with a wall of ignorance though, we did not mind, after all, we were still young and energetic with a full life ahead of us. After we finished the dishes, it was time to rest and get sleep, as we were walking throught living room, I court sight of Grandma waiting on the couch with a book in hand, "grandma", I state, making the other two turn, "you are still up", she places the book on her lap, "sleep does not seem to come easy now", she says looking a down, "you guy go ahead, I will sit with grandma for a while", they nod before bidding Grandma and I goodnight and heading to their bedrooms. I find a comfy spot on the lounge near Grandma, "is it because of mum", I ask, Grandma lets out a long sigh, "that and then there is your father and you girls", she says, "no mother should be around when their own child passes", she explains, looking down at the book on her lap, "her passing does not make sense to me, I try to distract myself with things like this", she continues, hold up the book, "but I feel as though I have read nothing because my mind is always elsewhere", Grandma looks back at me, "then there is your father", she says through grated teeth, I to feel angry at the mention of him, "he was completely absent, then when I do see him, he reeked of alcohol and the slighest hint of perfume", Grandma angrily spits, "we found he was seeing someone else while mum was dying", I say sadly, Grandma's anger seemingly worsens, "that pig, how dare he leave my daughter all alone, during her most difficult time", she says, "I have half a mind to believe he killed her", she states, "grandma", I urge her not to go further, "Annah, it is the only explanation I can think of, what if she was poisoned", Grandma words hit me hard, what if that was fathers plan, what if he met that woman and decided that mum had to go, I shake my head, "no father would never", I try calming my thoughts. Grandma and I sat there with our thoughts for a few moments before she cut the silence again, "and you and John", she starts, "it is clear to me that you are born for each other", she smile, "but I know your father, he will do everything in his power to separate you two and force you into that damned marriage with..with", Grandma was trying to think, "Thomas", I interject, "thats the one", Grandma says, she leans in closer to me, "why don't you and Lisa come to live with me and we will make the excuse that I am old and struggling", Grandma suggested, her antics amusing me, "that is not a bad idea, lets see how we go", I say, Grandma places a hand on mine, "my door is always open for you if you need", she says. Grandma begins to stand, grunting a little, I stand and help her up, "thank you dear, these bones no longer work as well as they used to", she says patting my shoulder, "I am turning in for the night, our talk made me feel much better", she says and I nod smiling, "good night grandma", I say, "good night Annah", she replies and turns to walk toward her bedroom. I stand there for a few moments thinking about all the things grandma said, father will definity be more forceful with my marriage, now that mum is no longer here, what if she were poisoned, it is the only plausible explanation. The clearing of a throat brought me out of my thoughts, I look over and see John leaning against the wall, staring at me, "the sky is clear tonight care for some star gazing", he asks, a small smile playing on his lips, make me smile back, "I would love to", I nod, John walks over and gently grabs my hand and we walk outside together.