It's All Relative(40)

Gran could be in a body cast, head to foot, pain in every limb and joint, and she’d still smile warmly and say she was glad to see him. Tough…yet sweet, old broad. “Good morning, Grandma.”

She patted a spot beside her on the bed as she set down her needlework and glasses. “You seem tired, sweetheart. How are you holding up?”

Kai frowned. He thought he actually looked better today, having gotten a decent amount of sleep last night; even the slight sickness that Jessie had thought was related to the different altitude had lifted. Immediately switching to a smile, Kai leaned down and kissed the woman’s head before sitting beside her. “I’m great, Gran, don’t worry about me.” He set a muffin down on her side table. It was blueberry, with some sort of crumble on the top; it smelled incredible. Grabbing her hand, he stroked her fingers with his thumb. “You just worry about you.”

Gran dismissed his comment with a swish of her free hand. “Nonsense, nothing to worry about with me. But you…?” Her eyes gave him a penetrating, calculating examination, almost like she was looking for something specific in his expression. He tried to keep a relaxed, pleasant smile on his face. He didn’t want her to see any of the turmoil that had been in his heart lately. “How are you doing…with everything?” she asked, her voice oddly sympathetic.

Kai smiled wider. “Like I said, I’m great. Jessie is taking care of me.” A flush heated his cheeks after he said it, and he hoped Gran couldn’t see it through his skin tone. He shouldn’t react that way to Jessie’s name, but there it was.

Gran didn’t seem to catch his odd reaction. Instead she asked, “How was your first day at work? Do you…like it there?” Her eyes narrowed, and she suddenly seemed very anxious about his answer.

Kai wondered why at first, but then figured that, like his mother, Gran was merely hoping he was adjusting well to his new life, his new career. Frowning as he remembered his boss’s odd reaction to him, Kai shrugged and said, “I think it went okay.” He again altered his expression; he didn’t want his grandmother worrying about him. “I think I’ll like it there.”

She studied his face for a moment more, sighed, then curved her lips into a small smile. She finally seemed to believe Kai was doing okay, and that made him feel better. He was doing okay, all things considered.

Patting his thigh, she told him, “That’s good, dear. I wouldn’t want your new job to be…unpleasant for you.”

Kai absentmindedly scratched where a bee had stung his shoulder. “It’s not…”

As Kai started reminiscing about his day, his grandmother brightened. She sat up higher on the bed, and Kai caught a flinch in her face as a twinge of pain went through her. She didn’t comment on it, and Kai didn’t have a chance to ask her about it, because her next question froze his tongue solid. “Did you meet my nurse, Susan? Lovely girl. I tried to set you up with one of her daughters.”

Kai’s eyes widened. The “girl” he’d met in the other room was named Susan. She’d made sure Kai knew it, as she’d excitedly taken a maple bar from him. The nurse had to be his mother’s age, at least, but to Gran, he supposed that was still young. Wow. He hadn’t even been here a week yet, and his grandmother was already trying to fix him up. This could be a problem if he didn’t put a stop to it right away.

Finding his voice, he muttered, “I appreciate the thought, Gran, but I can find my own dates.” True, his last one had ended up being related to him, but at least he’d found her himself.

Gran gave him a look that clearly said she did not believe he was capable of such a thing. “Well, no need to worry, she only had boys.” She laughed in short, bubbled bursts. “I tried to throw them Jessica Marie’s way, but she gave me the exact same look you just did.”

Kai forced a smile, but he had to look away. He really didn’t like the idea of Jessie going out with some random guy who Gran had set her up with. Then again, he didn’t particularly like the thought of her going out with anyone. He frowned as he realized she would one day, and he’d have to come to terms with it.

Skin that felt paper-thin reached up to touch his face. Turning his head, he caught his grandmother giving him worried eyes. “You all right, honey?”

With a soft smile, he nodded. “Of course.” Hating what he was about to say, he told her, “I was just wishing that I could be home with you today, to take care of you once you leave here.” While he actually did feel that way, his thoughts had been nowhere near concern for her when she’d asked. Whether or not the sentiment was true, it felt like a lie, and he hated it. His frown returned.

His grandmother tried to forcefully turn his frown into a smile with her finger. “You just go to work and have a good day.” Kai smirked at her gesture and she added, “And if it makes you feel any better, Jessica Marie is going to be with me for most of the day. She works the later shift on Tuesdays.”

Kai’s mood darkened when he realized he wouldn’t be seeing his cousin tonight. How strange that he’d already gotten used to seeing her on a daily basis. And honestly, he’d been looking forward to an unexpected knock on his door this evening from her. Knowing that probably wouldn’t happen bothered him. Maybe he should take her up on her offer of visiting her at work. Another massage sounded really nice.